Selected Passages from "Yuan’s Model Conduct in Society" (Part 8)
 
17) Uphold Rational Thoughts and Have No Fear of Reproach
 
Though a person speaks very graciously and appropriately, there are still people who criticize him. Though a person does things extremely well, people still reproach him. It results from the diversity of thinking and opinions among people.
 
For an ethical and educated man, as long as he uses his conscience, references the teachings of the able and virtuous men in the past, and consults the contemporary wise and able people for advice, what he does or says will not be flawed from the theoretical standpoint, and therefore he does not need to worry about various frivolous remarks or argue with those who criticize him.
 
None of the able and virtuous men in the past, the present prime minister, or the provincial governors, are able to avoid the fate of being criticized, let alone the ordinary people. As an ordinary citizen, one should not fear reproach. It is not uncommon that some people simply love to make frivolous remarks about others. In general, when one purposely frames right as wrong, he must be jealous of or inconflict with someone. Therefore, why do we have to take such a person's remarks seriously? The best strategy is, instead, to ignore them without even arguing with them.
 
18) Flattery is Treacherous
 
Some people are good at praising me to my face and making their words sound like music to my ears without obviously flattering me. This is the plot of the most treacherous villains. While they flatter me to my face, behind the scenes, they may laugh at me for being fooled.
 
Some people are good at guessing other people's thoughts and then, to please others out of their own vested interest, say what others like to hear. This is another kind of very crafty villain. While what he guesses sometimes does match my thoughts, when he talks about it with other people, he will most likely laugh at me for being predictable.
 
《袁氏世范》选译（八）
 
* 坚持正见 不畏人议
 
有人话说得极为善良并且得体，还有对他非议的人；有人做事做得极为得当，还有对他非议的人。这就是众人的心思难以一致，众人的口实议论难以整齐划一而导致的结果。
 
品德修养好的君子说话办事，如果能本着自己的良心，参考古代圣贤的遗训，向当代的贤明人士咨询请教，这样做出事来在道理上没有缺陷，对别人纷纷攘攘的议论都可以不必去担忧考虑，也不必去跟那些人争辩。
 
自古以来的圣贤，当代的宰相，为官一时的太守县令，都不能免于被别人议论，何况一般人居住在乡井之中，同样是平民百姓，就更应该不畏惧别人对自己的议论了，有的人轻易的就议论自己，那又有甚么奇怪的呢？一般来讲，一个人硬把对的说成错的，一定是妒忌别人，或者是平常就和别人有仇怨，这些人说的话怎么可以定为公论呢？对于这些人的话，正应当不加考虑不加辩解才对。
 
* 奉承之言多奸诈
 
有些人善于当面称颂我的好处，让我喜欢听他说的那些话而不觉的他是在阿谀奉承。这是小人中最奸诈狡黠的一种。他当面奉承我令我高兴，等他回去和别人谈论起来，未必不会暗地嘲笑我被他愚弄了。
 
有些人善于揣摩别人的心意是甚么，找出这样的话题谈论，引导别人并且迎合别人的心意，使别人高兴他的言论和自己的暗相契合，这也是小人中最奸邪的一种。他揣摩我的心意而果然和我的心意相符合，等他回去和别人谈论起来，又未必不暗地里嘲笑我的心意被他预料到了。