Mencius warns against abandoning core morals or neglecting dear ones, as such lapses spread to all conduct. He also states that those who rush forward hastily will retreat quickly, stressing steady, gradual self-cultivation.
A boy from Que Dang was sent to deliver a message. Someone asked Confucius, “Is he someone who seeks self-improvement?”The Master replied, “I saw him sitting in an adult’s seat and walking side by side with his elders. He is not one who truly seeks improvement – he merely wants to achieve success quickly.”