Confucius remarked, "A wise man who is not serious will not inspire respect; what he learns will not remain permanent."Make conscientiousness and sincerity your first principles."Have no friends who are not as yourself."When you have bad habits do not hesitate to change them."

The Master said, "A gentleman who lacks gravity does not inspire awe. A gentleman who studies is unlikely to be inflexible.""Make it your guiding principle to do your best for others and to be trustworthy in what you say. Do not accept as friend anyone who is not as good as you.""When you make a mistake, do not be afraid of mending you ways."

The Master said, "If a gentleman is frivolous, he will lose the respect of his inferiors and lack firm ground upon which to build up his education. First and foremost he must learn to be faithful to his superiors, to keep promises, to refuse the friendship of all who are not like him. And if he finds he has made a mistake, then he must not be afraid of admitting the fact and amending his ways."

The Master said: "Exemplary persons (junzi 君子) lacking in gravity would have no dignity. Yet in their studies they are not inflexible. Take doing your utmost and making good on your word (xin 信) as your mainstay. Do not have as a friend anyone who is not as good as you are. And where you have erred, do not hesitate to mend your ways."

Chee says, an honorable man, without dignity of conduct, can obtain no respect. His learning cannot remain stable. Set the highest value on faithfulness and sincerity. Have no friend unlike yourself. Transgressing, you should not fear to return.