Ruò yào rén bù zhī, chúfēi jǐ mò wéi.*

若要人不知, 除非己莫為。

Lit If [you] don't want others to know [about something], the only way is [for you your]self not to do [it].

Fig The only sure way to remain blameless is not to do anything for which you could be blamed.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 12; Wǔ Sōng, chap. 2; a paraphrase from the Hàn Shū Mù Chéng Zhuàn; see also tiānxià de huàishì and yào rén zhī and zhǐpà bù zuò and zuò zhě bù bì below.]

Topics BEHAVIOR CONDUCT Hàn Shū JPM Mù Chéng Zhuàn SELF-RESTRAINT Wǔ_Sōng