Zixia puts forward a balanced moral standard: never cross the line on core moral principles, yet allow flexibility for trivial daily etiquette. This dialectical view urges people to stick to major integrity while being lenient over minor flaws.
Confucius and Zigong list detestable conducts. Confucius condemns slanderers, insubordinates, reckless brave and stubborn men; Zigong loathes those masking plagiarism, arrogance and harsh criticism as wisdom, courage and candor, warning against fake virtues.
The Master said, “The most virtuous withdraw from the world entirely; the next withdraw from a particular state; the next avoid disrespectful looks; and the next avoid offensive words.”The Master added, “There have already been seven such people.”
Someone asked, “What about repaying resentment with virtue?”The Master replied, “Then what would you use to repay virtue? Repay resentment with uprightness, and repay virtue with virtue.”
The Master said, “If I cannot find someone who follows the middle way to associate with, I would surely choose the bold or the principled! The bold are eager to advance; the principled refuse to do certain things.”
Yu the Great and Hou Ji lived in times of peace. Yu passed by his own home three times while controlling floods but never entered; Hou Ji tirelessly taught farming to feed the people. Confucius praised them.