问：「叔孙武叔毁仲尼，大圣人如何犹不免于毁谤？」
先生曰：「毁谤自外来的，虽圣人如何免得？人只贵于自修，若自己实实落落是个圣贤，纵然人都毁他，也说他不著；却若浮云揜日，如何损得日的光明？若自己是个象恭[1]色庄[2]、不坚不介的，纵没一个人说他，他的恶慝终须一日发露。所以孟子说：『有求全之毁，有不虞之誉。』毁誉在外的，安能避得？只要自修何如尔。」
问：「叔孙武叔毁谤仲尼，大圣人怎么还免不了毁谤？」
先生说：「毁谤是从外面来的，圣人又如何免得？人只贵在自修。若自己实实落落是个圣贤，纵然人人都毁他，也伤他不着；就像浮云遮日，怎能损得了日的光明？若自己是个貌似恭敬、色厉内荏、不坚定不介然的人，纵然没有一个人说他，他的恶也终有一天败露。所以孟子说：『有求全之毁，有不虞之誉。』毁誉都在外面，怎能避得？只看自修得怎样罢了。」
Asked: 'Shusun Wushu slandered Confucius — how is even a great sage not free of slander?'
The Master said: 'Slander comes from without; how should even a sage escape? A man's worth is all in self-cultivation. Truly a sage or worthy, and though all slander him, it does not touch him — a passing cloud cannot dim the sun's light. But be one whose reverence is all surface, unsteady and unclean, and though no man speaks, his evil will out one day. Hence Mencius: blame from those demanding perfection, praise unhoped for. Blame and praise are outside — how avoid them? Only ask how one's self-cultivation stands.'
- 象恭：貎恭而心不然。
- 色庄：表面庄重而实不然。