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328
THE LỄ KỈ.
'Over her embroidered robe she wears a (plain)
garment;'
BK. XXVIII.
expressing how the wearer disliked the display of the beauty (of the robe). Just so, it is the way of the superior man to prefer the concealment (of his virtue), while it daily becomes more illustrious, and it is the way of the small man to seek notoriety, while he daily goes more and more to ruin.
61. It is characteristic of the superior man, appearing insipid, yet not to produce satiety; preferring a simple negligence, yet to have his accomplishments recognised; seeming mild and simple, yet to be discriminating. He knows how what is distant lies in what is near. He knows where the wind proceeds from. He knows how what is minute becomes manifested1. He, we may be assured, will enter (the innermost recesses of) virtue.
62. It is said in the Book of Poetry (II, iv, ode 8, 11),
'Though they dive to the bottom, and lie there, They are very clearly seen.'
Therefore the superior man internally examines his heart, that there may be nothing wrong there, and no occasion for dissatisfaction with himself.
63. That wherein the superior man cannot be equalled is simply this,-his (work) which other men do not see. It is said in the Book of Poetry (III, iii, ode 2, 7),
'When in your chamber, 'neath its light, Maintain your conscience pure and bright.'
1 That is how the ruler's character acts on the people as the wind on grass and plants.
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