諺語 · a single proverb
為人不作虧心事
Simplified: 为人不作亏心事
What does 為人不作虧心事 (wéi rén bù zuò kuī xīn shì) mean?
為人不作虧心事 (wéi rén bù zuò kuī xīn shì) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "being a person, do not do things that trouble the conscience." In use it means: Act in such a way that your conscience is clear; do not act against your own moral sense. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Dog.
Literally: "being a person, do not do things that trouble the conscience."
The reading
The thing that troubles the conscience at three in the morning is not confused about its nature, even if the daylight arguments were convincing. Act in such a way that the midnight review finds nothing that needs defending against your own witness. The only court that cannot be appealed is the inner one.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional Chinese folk proverb (yanyu)
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Harmony, Virtue & Balance, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Dog, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 為人不作虧心事 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 為人不作虧心事 (wéi rén bù zuò kuī xīn shì) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional Chinese folk proverb (yanyu). It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 為人不作虧心事?
In Mandarin it is wéi rén bù zuò kuī xīn shì. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 為人不作虧心事 aloud in Mandarin.