——Quoted in "Zhijiang Xinyu: The High Realm of Pursuing "Prudence and Independence"".

■Interpretation

Generally speaking, when there is supervision, the vast majority of people can pay attention to their behavior and do not do things that violate morality, and the problem is when no one notices. "Prudence" is a method of self-restraint advocated by the sages. Kangxi summarized "prudence and independence" as "not deceiving in the dark room", and warned his descendants: ""University" and "The Mean" are all trained by prudence and independence. Lin Zexu hung a striking middle hall in his residence, with the word "Shen Du" written on it, in order to alert and encourage himself. The first article of Zeng Guofan, a famous minister in the late Qing Dynasty, said in his will was "Shen Du". For communists, especially the party's senior leading cadres, "prudence and independence" is also a realm of self-cultivation that should be had. Liu Shaoqi pointed out in "On the Cultivation of Communist Party Members" that "even when every Communist Party member works independently, is unsupervised, and has the possibility of doing bad things, he can be cautious and independent, and do not do any bad things." Party members and cadres, especially leading cadres, often hold a certain amount of power in their hands, and they must not only take the initiative to accept the supervision of the organization and system, but also constantly strengthen self-discipline, so that they can be the same on and off the stage, and the same as those before and after others, especially in private, when no one is around, and in subtle places, they must always walk on thin ice and be on the edge of the abyss, and never indulge, deviate, or exceed the rules.

■Original text

The predicate of the Mandate of Heaven is sexuality, the predicate of recklessness is the Tao, and the predicate of cultivation is teaching. Those who are also in the Tao must not be separated from it; can be separated, not the way. Therefore, a gentleman is cautious of what he does not see, and fearful of what he does not hear. ——(Spring and Autumn Period to Qin and Han Dynasties) "The Book of Rites: The Mean"

■Definition

"The Mean" was originally one of the "Book of Rites", written by Confucius's grandson Zisi. Zhu Xi of the Southern Song Dynasty extracted it and called it the "Four Books" together with the Analects, Mencius and the University.

"The Book of Rites: The Mean" begins with a clear discussion of "prudence and independence": "Therefore, the gentleman is cautious about what he does not see, and he is afraid of what he does not hear." Don't see it, don't show it, so the gentleman is cautious. "See: through "present", manifest. Solitude: Individuals are alone. It is to the effect that a gentleman therefore guards the way carefully when no one sees it, and fears to deviate from it when no one knows. Even in hidden places, or in small things, there is no sign of apostasy. Therefore, the gentleman is also very cautious when he is alone and knows.

Regarding "prudence and independence", the "Book of Rites and Universities" explains as: "This is said to be sincere in the middle and form in the outside, so the gentleman must be cautious of his independence." "Prudence refers to the fact that a gentleman acts in accordance with certain moral norms with a high degree of consciousness without supervision, and does not do anything that violates moral beliefs and principles of life. On the contrary, "it is not good for the villain to be idle", "to hide his badness and to be good", the villain does bad things when he is alone, but tries to disguise himself. However, it is impossible to deceive people by barely disguising oneself, "a man sees himself as he sees his lungs and liver." Only "sincerity in the middle" can be "formal", so prudence is a very high moral realm.