颜渊问仁。子曰,克己复礼为仁,一日克己复礼,天下归仁焉,为仁由己,而由人乎哉。颜渊曰,请问其目。子曰,非礼勿视,非礼勿听,非礼勿言,非礼勿动。颜渊曰,回虽不敏,请事斯语矣。
1. Yen Yuan asked about perfect virtue. The Master said, "To subdue one's self and return to propriety, is perfect virtue. If a man can for one day subdue himself and return to propriety, all under heaven will ascribe perfect virtue to him. Is the practice of perfect virtue from a man himself, or is it from others?" 2. Yen Yuan said, "I beg to ask the steps of that process." The Master replied, "Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak not what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety." Yen Yuan then said, "Though I am deficient in intelligence and vigour, I will make it my business to practise this lesson."