Cheng Yi
"There are three levels of ruling the world, and there are few mistakes! The superior ones, although good, have no evidence, and without evidence, they are not trusted, and without trust, the people will not follow; the inferior ones, although good, are not respected, and without respect, they are not trusted, and without trust, the people will not follow. Therefore, the way of a gentleman: to base it on oneself, to test the common people, to examine the three kings without error, to establish it in heaven and earth without contradiction, to question the ghosts and gods without doubt, and to wait for the saints for a hundred generations. And not confused. To question ghosts and gods without doubt is to know heaven; to wait for a sage for hundreds of generations without doubt is to know people. Therefore, a gentleman acts as the way of the world, acts as the law of the world, and speaks as the rule of the world. If you are far away, you will have hope; if you are close, you will not be tired. The Book of Songs says: "There is no harm there, and there is no shooting here. I hope I can work hard day and night to achieve eternal praise!" There is no gentleman who does not do this, and he will be praised by the world early. "
