反求諸己

From Mencius and Liji:

仁者如射，射者正己而後發。發而不中，不怨勝己者，反求諸己而已矣。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

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仁者如射，射者正己而后发。发而不中，不怨胜己者，反求诸己而已矣。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

Rénzhě rú shè, shè zhě zhèng jǐ érhòu fā. Fā ér bù zhòng, bù yuàn shèng jǐ zhě, fǎn qiú zhū jǐ éryǐ yǐ.

The man who would be benevolent is like the archer. The archer adjusts himself and then shoots. If he misses, he does not murmur against those who surpass himself. He simply turns round and seeks the cause of his failure in himself.

愛人不親反其仁，治人不治反其智，禮人不答反其敬。行有不得者，皆反求諸己，其身正而天下歸之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

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爱人不亲反其仁，治人不治反其智，礼人不答反其敬。行有不得者，皆反求诸己，其身正而天下归之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

Ài rén bù qīn fǎn qí rén, zhì rén bù zhì fǎn qí zhì, lǐ rén bù dá fǎn qí jìng. Xíng yǒu bùdé zhě, jiē fǎn qiú zhū jǐ, qí shēn zhèng ér tiānxià guī zhī.

If a man love others, and no responsive attachment is shown to him, let him turn inwards and examine his own benevolence. If he is trying to rule others, and his government is unsuccessful, let him turn inwards and examine his wisdom. If he treats others politely, and they do not return his politeness, let him turn inwards and examine his own feeling of respect. When we do not, by what we do, realise what we desire, we must turn inwards, and examine ourselves in every point. When a man's person is correct, the whole kingdom will turn to him with recognition and submission.

射者，仁之道也。射求正諸己，己正然後發，發而不中，則不怨勝己者，反求諸己而已矣。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

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射者，仁之道也。射求正诸己，己正然后发，发而不中，则不怨胜己者，反求诸己而已矣。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: The Book of Rites, c. 4^th – 2^nd century BCE

Shè zhě, rén zhī dào yě. Shè qiú zhèng zhū jǐ, jǐ zhèng ránhòu fā, fā ér bù zhòng, zé bù yuàn shèng jǐ zhě, fǎn qiú zhū jǐ éryǐ yǐ.

Archery suggests to us the way of benevolence. (The archer) seeks to be correct in himself, and then discharges his arrow. If it miss the mark, he is not angry with the one who has surpassed himself, but turns round and seeks (for the cause of failure) in himself.

反求諸己

1. to self-reflect; to engage in self-examination