The Master said, “To have faults and not correct them – that is truly a fault.”
Zigong asked, “Is there one word that can be practiced for a lifetime?” The Master said, “Perhaps it is ‘shu’ (reciprocity)! Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.”
The Master said with a sigh, “You, Zhong You! Truly, those who understand virtue are few indeed!”
The Master said, “The noble person is calm and composed but not arrogant; the petty person is arrogant but not calm.”
Sima Niu asked about the noble person (junzi). The Master said, “The noble person has no anxiety and no fear.”He asked further, “Is being free from anxiety and fear alone enough to be called a noble person?”The Master replied, “When one examines oneself inwardly and finds no guilt, what is there to worry or…
Confucius eliminated four faults: he did not speculate without evidence, did not insist on absolute certainty, did not cling to rigid opinions, and did not prioritize his own self.