Confucius remarked, “It is indeed a pleasure to acquire knowledge and, as you go on acquiring, to put into practice what you have acquired. A greater pleasure still it is when friends of congenial minds come from afar to seek you because of your attainments. But he is truly a wise and good man who feels no discomposure even when he is not noticed of men.”

The Master said, "Is it not a pleasure, having learned something, to try it out at due intervals? Is it not a joy to have like-minded friends come from afar? Is it not gentlemanly not to take offence when others fail to appreciate your abilities?"

The Master said, "To learn and at due times to repeat what one has learnt, is that not after all a pleasure? That friends should come to one from afar, is this not after all delightful? To remain unsoured even though one’s merits are unrecognized by others, is that not after all what is expected of a gentleman?"

The Master said: "Having studied, to then repeatedly apply what you have learned——is this not a source of pleasure? To have friends come from distant quarters——is this not a source of enjoyment? To go unacknowledged by others without harboring frustration——is this not the mark of an exemplary person (junzi 君子).

Chee says, learn; and continually practise. Is it not delightful! To have a friend come from a distant part, is it not happiness? A man without knowledge and (yet) without envy, is he not the honourable man?