Yen Yuan asked about perfect virtue, The Master said, "To subdue one's self and return to propriety, is perfect virtue.
颜渊问仁,子曰:“克己复礼为仁。
If a man can for one day subdue himself and return to propriety, an under heaven will ascribe perfect virtue to him.
一日克己复礼,天下归仁焉。
Is the practice of perfect virtue from a man himself, or is it from others?"
为仁由己,而由人乎哉?”
Yen Yuan said, "I beg to ask the steps of that process." The Master replied,
颜渊曰:“请问其目?”子曰:
"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."
“非礼勿视,非礼勿听,非礼勿言,非礼勿动。”
![论语 论语](http://upload.kekenet.com/2019/1014/68701571018500.jpg)
Yen Yuan then said, "Though I am deficient in intelligence and vigor, I will make it my business to practice this lesson."
颜渊曰:“回虽不敏,请事斯语矣。”
Chung-kung asked about perfect virtue. The Master said, "It is, when you go abroad, to behave to every one as if you were receiving a great guest; to employ the people as if you were assisting at a great sacrifice;
仲弓问仁,子曰:“出门如见大宾,使民如承大祭;
not to do to others as you would not wish done to yourself; to have no murmuring against you in the country, and none in the family."
己所不欲,勿施于人;在邦无怨,在家无怨。”
Chung-kung said, "Though I am deficient in intelligence and vigor, I will make it my business to practice this lesson."
仲弓曰:“雍虽不敏,请事斯语矣。”