Confucian Analects · Analects 9.23
The Master said, 'Can men refuse to assent to the words of strict admonition? But it is reforming the conduct because of them which is valuable. Can men refuse to be pleased with words of gentle advice? But it is unfolding their aim which is valuable. If a man be pleased with these words, but does not unfold their aim, and assents to those, but does not reform his conduct, I can really do nothing with him.'
Chinese · source text【廿三章】子曰、法語之言、能無從乎、改之為貴、巽與之言、能無說乎、繹之為貴、說而不繹、從而不改、吾末如之何也已矣。
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Confucius · English translation by James Legge · bilingual transcription
James Legge, The Chinese Classics, Volume 1: Confucian Analects · Project Gutenberg #4094
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