Be incorruptible and serve the public; treat both family and state matters with utmost integrity; for the corrupt, even the sound of wind and rain serves as a warning. When disputes arise, reflect calmly to discern whether one is at fault. Officials should hold a spirit of public service; the greatest virtue in politics is love for the people. Do not seek grand mansions or fertile lands. One should possess virtue, morality, and civic duty, and approach life with compassion, kindness, and confidence. Never stop learning and never forget your aspirations; obey the law and support one another. Avoid excessive beauty in servants and excessive adornment in consorts. Simple and clean utensils are better than gold; simple and nutritious meals are better than delicacies. Like the three friends of winter—pine, plum, and bamboo—the three treasures of managing a household are diligence, thrift, and harmony. Cultivate yourself in stillness and nurture virtue through frugality. With a little more responsibility and care, and a little less stubbornness, a home becomes twice as warm. Parents are the models of the family, and children are the embodiment of the family's words and actions. Help the weak and the poor to enjoy the light of a prosperous age and build a well-off society. When moral order is lost, destruction follows. A wide house and broad paths are not as important as a broad mind; eating and dressing well are not as important as a peaceful state of mind. Overindulgent foods can harm the stomach; do not waste food and pursue a healthy diet. Speak with civility to foster a harmonious home. Even great men must continue to learn and reflect. It is shameful to fawn over wealth, and despicable to be arrogant in poverty. Live simply and teach your children righteousness. A great task can be ruined by a single slip; putting public interest above private interest will win the people's trust. Living alone in isolation is not as good as being close to neighbors and knowing one another. Extravagance leads to excessive desires; a gentleman who craves wealth will invite disaster. Be honest and simple, act with resolve and perseverance, be loyal and filial, and manage your home with diligence and thrift. No matter the size of family matters, harmony is most important; cherish and repay the grace of your parents' upbringing.
