Sima Hong
The Master said, "Go back! A gentleman is concealed yet visible; he is not pretentious yet dignified; he is not harsh yet powerful; he does not speak but is trustworthy." The Master said, "A gentleman does not misstep with others, does not mismatch with others, does not mislead with others. Hence, a gentleman's appearance is enough to be feared, his expression is enough to be feared, and his words are enough to be trusted. It is said in Fu Xing, 'Be respectful and cautious, and do not choose what to say.'" The Master said, "The reason why the clothes and the clothes do not follow each other is that we want the people not to offend each other." The Master said, "When offering sacrifices with utmost respect, do not follow them with music; when attending the morning with utmost argument, do not follow them with fatigue." The Master said, "A gentleman is cautious so as to avoid calamity, is sincere so as not to cover up, and is respectful so as to avoid shame." The Master said, "When a gentleman is solemn and respectful, he becomes stronger day by day; when he is idle and careless, he becomes more lazy day by day. A gentleman does not spend a day busying himself, as if it were not the whole day." The Master said, "Be cautious in serving ghosts and gods, and choose a day and a month to meet the king, for fear that the people will not respect him." The Master said, "If you insult me, you will not be afraid of death." The Master said, "No words are not spoken, no manners are not to see each other; to wish that the people would not disrespect each other. The Book of Changes says: ‘The first divination is reported, the second and third divinations are reported, and if it is disrespected, then it is not reported.’”
