Chapter 3434장
詩曰：「衣錦尚絅，」惡其文之著也。故君子之道，闇然而日章；小人之道，的然而日亡。君子之道，淡而不厭、簡而文、溫而理。知遠之近，知風之自，知微之顯。可與入德矣。《詩》云：「潛雖伏矣，亦孔之昭。」故君子內省不疚，無惡於志。君子之所不可及者，其唯人之所不見乎。《詩》云：「相在爾室，尚不愧於屋漏。」故君子不動而敬，不言而信。詩曰：「奏假無言，時靡有爭。」是故君子不賞而民勸，不怒而民威於鈇鉞。詩曰：「不顯惟德，百辟其刑之。」是故君子篤恭而天下平。《詩》云：「予懷明德，不大聲以色。」子曰：「聲色之於以化民，末也。《詩》云，『德輶如毛。』」毛猶有倫。「上天之載，無聲無臭。」至矣。
The Odes say, "Over brocade one puts a plain robe." This is from dislike of the pattern showing. So the way of the gentleman is dim, yet day by day it grows bright. The way of the small man is plain to see, yet day by day it fades.
The way of the gentleman is plain, yet men do not tire of it. It is simple, yet patterned. It is warm, yet orderly. Know that the far starts from the near. Know where the wind comes from. Know that the small becomes manifest. Then one can enter into virtue.
The Odes say, "Though it sinks and lies hidden, it is yet very bright." So the gentleman looks within and finds nothing to ail him, and there is nothing hateful in his will. What others cannot reach in the gentleman lies only where men cannot see.
The Odes say, "I look at you in your room. Even in the dark corner you have nothing to be ashamed of." So the gentleman is revered though he does not stir, and is trusted though he does not speak.
The Odes say, "They came forward and drew near without a word, and in that time there was no strife." So the gentleman gives no reward, yet the people spur themselves on. He shows no anger, yet the people fear him more than the axe.
The Odes say, "Ah, is it not shown, this virtue. All the lords take it as their model." So the gentleman is earnest and humble, and all under heaven is at peace.
The Odes say, "I hold bright virtue close. I do not make my voice and my face great." Confucius said, "To change the people by voice and face is the tip of the branch. The Odes say, 'Virtue is light as a hair.'" A hair still has something to match it against. "What high heaven does has no sound and no smell." That is the utmost.