Yen Yüan asked about perfect virtue. The Master said, “To subdue one’s self and return to propriety, is perfect virtue. If a man can for one day subdue himself and return to propriety, all under heaven will ascribe perfect virtue to him. Is the practice of perfect virtue from a man himself, or is it from others?”
Yen Yüan said, “I beg to ask the steps of that process.”
The Master replied, “Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak not what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety.”
Yen Yüan then said, “Though I am deficient in intelligence and vigour, I will make it my business to practise this lesson.”