Confucius said, "There are three things which the superior man guards against;
孔子曰：“君子有三戒：
In youth, when the physical powers are not yet settled, he guards against lust;
少之时，血气未定，戒之在色；
When he is strong and the physical powers are full of vigor, he guards against quarrelsomeness;
及其壮也，血气方刚，戒之在斗；
When he is old, and the animal powers are decayed, he guards against covetousness."
及其老也，血气既衰，戒之在得。”
Confucius said, "There are three things of which the superior man stands in awe;
孔子曰：“君子有三畏：
He stands in awe of the ordinances of Heaven. He stands in awe of great men. He stands in awe of the words of sages.
畏天命，畏大人，畏圣人之言。

The mean man does not know the ordinances of Heaven, and consequently does not stand in awe of them,
小人不知天命而不畏也，
He is disrespectful to great men, he makes sport of the words of sages."
狎大人，侮圣人之言。”
Confucius said, "Those who are born with the possession of knowledge are the highest class of men,
孔子曰：“生而知之者上也，
Those who learn, and so readily get possession of knowledge, are the next;
学而知之者次也；
Those who are dull and stupid, and yet compass the learning, are another class next to these. As to those who are dull and stupid and yet do not learn,
困而学之又其次也。困而不学，
they are the lowest of the people."
民斯为下矣。”