The virtuous man makes his gaze ever cooler and brighter; on no account does he lightly assert his upright nature.
君子宜净试冷眼，慎勿轻动刚肠。
Notes
This statement from Cai Gen Tan (Tending the roots of wisdom) distills a core tenet for noble conduct: discerning the world with detached clarity, mastering emotions through disciplined restraint. It emphasizes the dialectic between quiet observation and prudent action.
Only by shedding subjective biases can one perceive reality’s essence, avoiding entanglement in illusions or passions. Unbridled forthrightness, if rashly displayed, risks escalating conflict and provoking backlash –demanding temperance.
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