Confucius said, “The noble person has nine things to reflect on: in seeing, think of clarity; in hearing, think of acuteness; in facial expression, think of warmth; in demeanor, think of respectfulness; in speech, think of sincerity; in action, think of diligence; in doubt, think of asking; in anger, think of the difficulties it may cause; in encountering gain, think of righteousness.”
Note
This passage from the Analects of Confucius systematically outlines the Confucian ideal of comprehensive self-cultivation in daily conduct, embedding moral awareness into every aspect of perception, expression, speech, action, and even emotion and desire – exemplifying the practices of “cautious solitude” and “overcoming the self”.
The “nine reflections” are not isolated rules but an integrated system of inner discipline and outward propriety: the first two (seeing, hearing) concern objective perception; the next four (expression, demeanor, speech, action) govern ethical interpersonal conduct; the final three (doubt, anger, gain) directly confront human vulnerabilities – confusion, rage, and greed – and stress their regulation through reason and righteousness.
Notably, “in anger, think of the difficulties it may cause” reveals emotional wisdom: anger leads to impulsiveness, so one must anticipate consequences; “in encountering gain, think of righteousness” embodies the core Confucian view on profit vs. principle – any benefit must pass the test of righteousness, never pursued at its expense. This aligns with Analects 7.16: “Wealth and rank acquired unrighteously are to me like floating clouds.”
At its heart, the “nine reflections” aim to transform moral consciousness into habitual practice. The noble person is not born perfect but cultivates virtue through constant self-examination, consciously choosing responses aligned with li (ritual propriety) and benevolence (humaneness) in every moment. This is not repression but guiding natural impulses toward higher order.
The passage also reflects the Confucian emphasis on “moral effort” : virtue lies not in abstract speculation but in everyday life. True character is revealed in the split-second choices of “a glance,” “a word,” or “a thought.”
In today’s world of information overload, emotional volatility, and rampant utilitarianism, the “nine reflections” remain profoundly relevant: they remind us that true refinement lies in continuous, conscious calibration of one’s words and deeds against moral standards.
In short, Confucius teaches: The virtue of the noble person is forged in the minutiae; every moment of the ‘nine reflections’ is a site of moral cultivation.
Further Reading
Sima Niu asked about the noble person. The Master said, “The noble person has neither anxiety nor fear.” “Is one who has no anxiety or fear thereby a noble person?” “When one’s self-examination finds no fault, what is there to worry or fear about?” Analects 12.4 (Yan Yuan)
Both emphasize inner vigilance and self-reflection as the basis of noble conduct – “nine reflections” operationalize this “inner examination.”
孔子曰：「君子有九思：視思明，聽思聰，色思溫，貌思恭，言思忠，事思敬，疑思問，忿思難，見得思義。」
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