Legge Translation (1861)

Confucius said: "'Contemplating good, and pursuing it, as if they could not reach it; contemplating evil, and shrinking from it, as they would from thrusting the hand into boiling water;' — I have seen such men, as I have heard such words.

'Living in retirement to study their aims, and practicing righteousness to carry out their principles;' — I have heard these words, but I have not seen such men."