One who knows how to govern himself keeps his deliberations calm; one who knows how to nurture his innate nature keeps his sense‑organs empty and tranquil.
Ordinary people use their spirit restlessly; restlessness causes excessive expenditure, which is called extravagance.
Sharp vision and wisdom are innate endowments; movement‑stillness and deliberation are human activities. Human beings see through innate eyesight, hear through innate hearing, and think through innate wisdom.
Uprightness means inner and outer conduct correspond, and words match deeds. Integrity means accepting fate of life and death and regarding wealth lightly. Straightness means impartial justice with an un‑biased public mind, free from factional favoritism. Radiance means noble official rank and magnificent attire.
Whoever acts in accordance with principles and reason cannot fail. On a grand scale, one may attain the supreme authority of the Son of Heaven; on a smaller scale, one may readily gain the rewards and salaries of high ministers and generals.
When a person receives blessing, wealth and honor arrive. Wealth and honor bring fine clothing and food. Fine clothing and food breed arrogance. Arrogance leads to deviant conduct and irrational actions. Deviant conduct brings early death; irrational actions yield no success.
When a person meets misfortune, his heart grows fearful and alert. Fear‑alertness makes conduct upright. Upright conduct makes deliberation thorough.