Get up at dawn and sweep the courtyard, so that the house is clean inside and outside.
Rest early at night. Check personally that the doors and windows are properly shut.
When you eat, remember that food is the product of hard work. When you put on clothes, keep in mind that materials do not come by easily.
One should repair the house before it rains and not start digging a well when he already feels thirsty.
Be thrifty in satisfying your own needs, but generous in hosting a reception.
Utensils used in the house should be plain and clean. Earthenware is better than those made of jade and gold.
Meals need not be sumptuous; finely prepared, simple vegetables can be better than rare delicacies.
Do not construct extravagant mansions; do not try to gain fertile farmland.
Matchmakers and sorceresses are agents of vice. Pretty maids and a charming wife need not be a blessing.
Do not judge by physical appearance when hiring servants. It is well with you even if your wife and maids look plain without make-up.
Even of ancestors are far removed from us, we should offer sacrifices with reverence. Even if your children are slow-witted, you should still instruct them in the Confucian classics.
Strive to lead a simple and thrifty life; through such example your children will learn the principles of living.
Do not be tempted by unexpected gains; do not drink more than your capacity.
When dealing with peddlers, do not try to take advantage of them.
Show sympathy and solicitude to your relatives or neighbours who are in adverse circumstances.
Fortune amassed by unjust means cannot be enjoyed for long; violating moral principles will bring about destruction.
Among brothers and close relations, the more affluent should help the needy.
In a family, parents and children husband and wife, the older and younger each do their duty. They should all abide strictly by the rules of behaviour and appropriate language.
A father who believes the slanderous talk of a woman and turns against his own flesh cannot be called a true man.
A man who values money more than his parents is a bad son.
When marrying off a daughter, choose a man of good qualities. It is wrong to demand lavish betrothal gifts.
When choosing a wife for a son, find a girl who is virtuous and genial, not one whose family offers a generous dowry.
People who fawn over the rich and powerful are most despicable.
People who behave arrogantly towards the poor are themselves the most contemptible.
Avoid lawsuit to settle domestic disputes; litigation often has bad results.
When with others, do not talk too much. One who talks too much is prone to say the wrong thing.
Do not use one’s power to oppress the orphaned and widowed.
One should not recklessly kill livestock to indulge his appetite.
Eccentricity and conceit often misguide a person and result in regret.
One who is spiritless and lazy can achieve nothing.
Keeping company with a profligate young man, one will ultimately suffer because of him.
Men who are experienced, prudent and modest can be depended on during an emergency.
When hearing an accusation, do not readily believe it. Keep your cool and think carefully, for the charge may be false.
When engaged in an argument, one should calmly ask himself whether he is at fault.
Do not keep in mind a favour you have bestowed on someone else, but do not forget to repay a favour you have received.
Whatever you do, always allow some leeway for unforeseen circumstances. When you are successful in one endeavour, do not aspire to have the success repeated.
Do not envious of other people’s happiness. Do not take pleasure in other people’s misfortune.
One who gives publicity to his good deeds is not genuinely doing good. One who tries to conceal his wrongdoing has committed great evil indeed.
If a man has lascivious ideas when he sees a beautiful woman, his punishment will be visited upon his wife and daughter.
If a man harbours a grudge and vents his spite by underhand means, he is inviting misfortune upon his descendants.
When a family lives together in harmony and peace, even if they are poor and can hardly make ends meet, they will enjoy plenty of happiness.
When a man has paid his taxes and levies, though his pockets are empty, he fells vastly gratified.
A man ought to study with the aspiration to become a man of virtue.
A man serving as an official ought to have the interests of the emperor and the nation at heart.
One must be faithful in his duty and contented in his lot. He must follow the proper course of the time and comply with the mandate of heaven. One who lives in this way has about attained the state of perfection.
黎明即起，洒掃庭除，要內外整潔。
既昏便息，關鎖門戶，必親自檢點。
一粥一飯，當思來處不易。
半絲半縷，恆念物力維艱。
宜未雨而綢繆，毋臨渴而掘井。
自奉必須儉約，宴客切勿留連。
器具質而潔，瓦缶勝金玉。
飲食約而精，園蔬勝珍饈。
勿營華屋，勿謀良田。
三姑六婆，實淫盜之媒。
婢美妾嬌，非閨房之福。
奴仆勿用俊美，妻妾切忌艷妝。
祖宗雖遠，祭祀不可不誠。
子孫雖愚，經書不可不讀。
居身務期質朴，教子要有義方。
勿貪意外之財，勿飲過量之酒。
與肩挑貿易，勿占便宜。
見貧苦親鄰，須多溫恤。
刻薄成家，理無久享。
倫常乖舛，立見消亡。
兄弟叔侄，須多分潤寡。
長幼內外，宜法屬辭嚴。
聽婦言，乖骨肉，豈是丈夫。
重資財，薄父母，不成人子。
嫁女擇佳婿，毋索重聘。
娶媳求淑女，毋計厚奩。
見富貴而生讒容者，最可恥。
遇貧窮而作驕態者，賤莫甚。
居家戒爭訟，訟則終凶。
處世戒多言，言多必失。
毋恃勢力而凌逼孤寡，勿貪口腹而恣殺生禽。
乖僻自是，悔誤必多。
頹惰自甘，家道難成。
狎昵惡少，久必受其累。
屈志老成，急則可相依。
輕聽發言，安知非人之譖訴，當忍耐三思。
因事相爭，安知非我之不是，須平心遭暗想。
施惠勿念，受恩莫忘。
凡事當留余地，得意不宜再往。
人有喜慶，不可生妒忌心。
人有禍患，不可生喜幸心。
善欲人見，不是真善。
惡恐人知，便是大惡。
見色而起淫心，報在妻女。
匿怨而用暗箭，禍延子孫。
家門和順，雖饔飧不繼，亦有余歡。
國課早完，即囊橐無余，自得至樂。
讀書志在聖賢，為官心存君國。
守分安命，順時聽天。
為人若此，庶乎近焉。
