Master You said,”In your promises cleave to what is right, and you will be able to fulfill your word; In your obeisances cleave to ritual, and you will keep dishonour at bay; In the partnership, choose those conversant ones, as they can stand the test of time. “
有子曰：「信近於義，言可復也；恭近於禮，遠恥辱也；因不失其親，亦可宗也。」
Notes
This passage from the Analects by Youzi (You Ruo, a disciple of Confucius) values “faithfulness”, but opposes unconditional “blind faith”. The worth of faithfulness lies in whether its content aligns with “righteousness” (moral principles and reason).
“Courtesy” is a cultivated virtue advocated by Confucianism, with “the Rites” serving as the standard to gauge its appropriateness. Excessive or improper respect lapses into “flattery” or “self-abasement”, inviting disgrace instead.
One must rely only on those who are close-knit, morally upright, and trustworthy.
The core of Youzi’s discourse is that “moral practice requires scales”:
- Faithfulness bounded by righteousness,
- Respectfulness measured by the Rites,
- Closeness grounded in reliability.
This “principled flexibility” prevents moral rigidity and behavioral arbitrariness, embodying the Confucian doctrine of the “Golden Mean” in ethical practice.
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