I. Observing People

Observing a person’s appearance is not as good as observing their vital energy. Those whose energy is clear and substantial are superior: clarity indicates nobility, and substance indicates longevity. Observing one’s energy is not as good as observing one’s mind. Even if a person of deep and substantial mind is dull, they will surely enjoy blessings in later life; though a clever-minded person may be intelligent, they may not necessarily live long. Yet some are dull and deceitful. As for those who appear slight outwardly but are deep-hearted within, one should examine their conduct.

In ordinary circumstances, observe what a person likes. Those who crave empty prestige surely have a base appearance, for the noble need not seek nobility; it is precisely because they are base that they seek it. Those who crave wealth surely have the appearance of poverty; the principle is the same. Those who pursue profit and gain will surely delight in oppressing others and be jealous of talent. The greedy are necessarily narrow-minded, and those who are narrow-minded are necessarily scant in blessings. Anyone who lavishes upon themselves while treating others poorly is not worth associating with.

In a very wealthy household, first observe its poor and suffering relatives. If the family can generously maintain ties with them, that household will surely prosper; its treatment of friends is secondary. In a middle-income household, first observe whether its children are courteous and able to study; if so, that household will surely prosper. In a poor household, first examine whether its members are diligent or lazy. If they are diligent, that household will surely prosper.

If people in a wealthy and eminent household have no arrogant air, people in a middle-class household have no dispirited air, and people in a poor household have no vulgar air, then, regardless of wealth or poverty, these are all signs of flourishing greatness and treasures of the nation.

Upon entering a person’s room, first look at the floor. Those who often fail to sweep it clean are surely lazy, and before long they will decline.

In a poor household, it does not matter if the children’s clothes are worn and old; but if they are not clean, the household is surely lazy.

Regardless of wealth or poverty, there are seven things most to be avoided in a household: first, not rising early; second, lacking manners; third, having no regular hours for sleeping and eating; fourth, keeping gambling implements; fifth, idleness; sixth, having no budget for income and expenses; seventh, borrowing debts without repaying them. Yet all these faults arise from idleness.

1. When one does not rise early, all manner of illicit, evil, and secretive acts naturally arise.

2. Those who lack manners can never advance or associate with people of integrity, and will naturally decline.

3. Those who have no regular hours for sleeping and eating incur unnoticed waste and are also prone to illness.

4. Those who keep gambling implements will surely attract bad companions. Gambling also harms human feelings; men and women mingle indiscriminately; it harms wealth, virtue, time, and spirit, and is an invisible thief.

5. Idleness causes the spirit to become listless and sluggish, fosters habits of laziness, and leads one to do pointless things. Nothing is more destructive of one’s aspirations.

6. Without a budget for income and expenses, one constantly entertains hopes regarding income while allowing expenditures to run without limit. Poverty naturally follows, and all the preceding evils arise from poverty and the loss of aspiration.

7. Borrowing money is not in itself a bad thing. People have a duty to assist one another financially, so there is nothing inherently wrong with it. But making a habit of not repaying debts is most dangerous. It is best not to borrow; if one does borrow, one must remain vigilant at all times.