Trustworthiness

凡出言、信為先、詐與妄、奚可焉

Whenever you open your mouth to speak, put trustworthiness first; how can deceit and wild talk be allowed?

話說多、不如少、惟其是、勿佞巧

Rather than speak much, speak little; aim only to speak rightly, and do not use glib and flowery words.

奸巧語、穢汙詞、市井氣、切戒之

Sly and cunning words, filthy and vulgar language, and the manners of the street ruffian, all must be firmly given up.

見未真、勿輕言、知未的、勿輕傳

If you have not seen something clearly, do not lightly speak of it; if you do not know something for certain, do not lightly spread it.

事非宜、勿輕諾、苟輕諾、進退錯

If a matter is not fitting, do not lightly agree to it; once you agree lightly, you are in difficulty whether you advance or retreat.

凡道字、重且舒、勿急疾、勿模糊

In all speech, pronounce words clearly and unhurriedly; do not speak hurriedly and fast, and do not mumble.

彼說長、此說短、不關己、莫閒管

One person speaks of another's strengths, another of his faults; if it has nothing to do with you, do not meddle in others' business.

見人善、即思齊、縱去遠、以漸躋

When you see goodness in another, think of drawing level with him; even if you are still far behind, catch up step by step.

見人惡、即內省、有則改、無加警

When you see wrongdoing in another, examine yourself; if you have it, correct it, and if you do not, be doubly on guard.

唯德學、唯才藝、不如人、當自

Only when you fall short of others in virtue and learning, talent and skill, should you yourself... A passage seems to be missing in the base text here.

若衣服、若飲食、不如人、勿生戚

As for falling short of others in clothing and food, do not let that make you sorrowful.

聞過怒、聞譽樂、損友來、益友卻

If you flare up at hearing of your faults and are pleased at hearing praise, harmful friends will come to you and good friends will draw away.

聞譽恐、聞過欣、直諒士、漸相親

If you are wary on hearing praise and glad on hearing of your faults, upright and sincere people will gradually draw close to you.

無心非、名為錯、有心非、名為惡

A wrong done without intent is called a mistake; a wrong done on purpose is evil.

過能改、歸於無、倘飾、增一辜

If you can correct a fault, it is as if you had none; if you cover it up, you add another offense. A passage seems to be missing in the base text here.

凡是人、皆須愛、天同覆、地同載

All who are human should be loved; we live under the same sky and on the same earth.

行高者、名自高、人所重、非貌高

One of high virtue naturally has a high reputation; what people value is virtue, not appearance.

才大者、望自大、人所服、非言大

One of great ability naturally has great standing; what people admire is ability, not big talk.

己有能、勿自私、人所能、勿輕訾

If you have a skill, do not keep it to yourself; if others have a skill, do not lightly slander it.

勿諂富、勿驕貧、勿厭故、勿喜新

Do not fawn on the rich, and do not look down on the poor; do not tire of old friends, and do not only delight in new ones.

人不閒、勿事攪、人不安、勿話擾

When others are busy, do not trouble them with affairs; when others are unwell, do not disturb them with talk.

人有短、切莫揭、人有私、切莫說

When others have shortcomings, never expose them; when others have private matters, never tell them abroad.

道人善、即是善、人知之、愈思勉

To praise another's good points is itself good; when that person hears of it, he will be more encouraged.

揚人惡、即是惡、疾之甚、禍且作

To publicize another's evil is itself evil; if you hate too much, you will instead bring disaster upon yourself.

善相勸、德皆建、過不規、道兩虧

When people urge each other toward goodness, the virtue of both is established; if faults go unremonstrated, the Way of both is diminished.

凡取與、貴分曉、與宜多、取宜少

In all taking and giving, what matters is to distinguish clearly; give out more, and take in less.

將加人、先問己、己不欲、即速已

Before you impose something on another, first ask yourself; if you yourself would not want it, stop at once.

恩欲報、怨欲忘、報怨短、報恩長

Kindness should be repaid, and resentment forgotten; keep grudges short and repay kindness long.

待婢僕、身貴端、雖貴端、慈而寬

In dealing with maidservants and menservants, what matters is that you yourself be upright; though uprightness matters, be kind and generous as well.

勢服人、心不然、理服人、方無言

If you overpower people with force, their hearts will not submit; if you persuade people with reason, only then will they have nothing to say.

同是人、類不齊、流俗眾、仁者

All are human, yet they are not of one kind; most drift with the current, while those of humaneness... A passage seems to be missing in the base text here.

果仁者、人多畏、言不諱、色不媚

One who is truly humane is held in awe by the crowd; he speaks without concealment, and his expression is free of flattery.

能親仁、無限好、德日進、過日少

If you can draw close to the humane, the benefits cannot be counted; your virtue advances day by day, and your faults decrease day by day.

不親仁、無限害、小人進、百事壞

If you do not draw close to the humane, the harm cannot be counted; petty people will seize the chance to approach, and all affairs will go to ruin.

不力行、但學文、長浮華、成何人

If you are unwilling to put things into earnest practice and only read books, you grow showy and vain; what can you become?

但力行、不學文、任己見、昧理真

If you only put things into earnest practice but do not read books, you follow your own opinions and cannot see the true principle.

讀書法、有三到、心眼口、信皆要

The method of reading has three "arrivals": the heart arrives, the eyes arrive, the mouth arrives; truly all are essential.

方讀此、勿慕彼、此未終、彼勿起

While you are reading this book, do not covet that one; until this one is finished, do not begin that one.

寬為限、緊用功、工夫到、滯塞通

Set your time limit generously, but apply yourself closely; when the effort is put in, blockages clear of themselves.

心有疑、隨札記、就人問、求確義

When you have a doubt in your mind, write it down at once; when you meet someone, ask him, and seek the exact meaning.

房室清、牆壁淨、几案潔、筆硯正

Keep the room tidy and the walls clean; keep the desk neat and the brush and inkstone set straight.

墨磨偏、心不端、字不敬、心先病

If the ink is ground crookedly, the heart is not upright; if the writing is sloppy and disrespectful, the heart has first gone wrong.

列典籍、有定處、讀看畢、還原處

Arrange your books in a fixed place; when you have finished reading, put them back where they were.

雖有急、卷束齊、有缺、就補之

Even when in a hurry, tie up the scrolls neatly; if any are damaged, mend them. A passage seems to be missing in the base text here.

非聖書、屏勿視、蔽聰明、壞心志

Books that are not by sages and worthies, put aside and do not read; they cloud the intelligence and corrupt the will.

勿自暴、勿自棄、聖與賢、可馴致

Do not abandon yourself, and do not give yourself up; sages and worthies can be reached step by step.