克己復禮

From the Analects:

顏淵問仁。子曰：「克己復禮為仁。一日克己復禮，天下歸仁焉。為仁由己，而由人乎哉？」顏淵曰：「請問其目。」子曰：「非禮勿視，非禮勿聽，非禮勿言，非禮勿動。」顏淵曰：「回雖不敏，請事斯語矣。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

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颜渊问仁。子曰：“克己复礼为仁。一日克己复礼，天下归仁焉。为仁由己，而由人乎哉？”颜渊曰：“请问其目。”子曰：“非礼勿视，非礼勿听，非礼勿言，非礼勿动。”颜渊曰：“回虽不敏，请事斯语矣。” [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Yányuān wèn rén. Zǐyuē: “Kèjǐfùlǐ wèi rén. Yīrì kèjǐfùlǐ, tiānxià guī rén yān. Wèi rén yóu jǐ, ér yóu rén hū zāi?” Yányuān yuē: “Qǐngwèn qí mù.” Zǐyuē: “Fēilǐwùshì, fēilǐwùtīng, fēilǐwùyán, fēilǐwùdòng.” Yányuān yuē: “Huí suī bùmǐn, qǐng shì sī yǔ yǐ.” [Pinyin]

Yan Yuan asked about perfect virtue. The Master said, "To subdue one's self and return to propriety, is perfect virtue. If a man can for one day subdue himself and return to propriety, all under heaven will ascribe perfect virtue to him. Is the practice of perfect virtue from a man himself, or is it from others?" Yan Yuan said, "I beg to ask the steps of that process." The Master replied, "Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak not what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety." Yan Yuan then said, "Though I am deficient in intelligence and vigor, I will make it my business to practice this lesson."

克己復禮

1. to subdue oneself and return to propriety