Han Feizi uses dusty palace pottery as a metaphor: dirty earthenware turns clean after washing. Likewise, regular self-examination and correcting personal flaws help people reduce mistakes in daily conduct and official work.
The Master said, “The noble person seeks from himself; the petty person seeks from others.”
The Master said, “(The good man) Does not grieve that other people do not recognize his merits. His only anxiety is lest he should fail to recognize theirs.”
Master Zeng said, “Every day I examine myself on these three points: in acting on behalf of others, have I always been loyal to their interests? In intercourse with my friends, have I always been true to my word? Have I failed to repeat the precepts that have been handed down to me?”