"You should examine yourself daily. If you find faults, you should correct them. When you find none, you should try even harder"

Self-examination is proposed here as a daily practice, emphasizing the importance of frequent introspection in one's personal growth and moral development. Honest reflection involves a willingness to seek out errors, weaknesses, or unethical behaviors in oneself, not simply to notice them but also to address them conscientiously. Identifying faults should not lead to discouragement or self-condemnation, but rather to immediate action: the effort to amend those aspects of character, attitude, or behavior that are lacking. Improvement is seen as a dynamic, ongoing process grounded in self-awareness.

The counsel goes a step further, warning against complacency. Finding no obvious faults is not cause for pride or laxity. Instead, it is urged that the absence of errors demands even greater effort. This paradoxical advice suggests that perceived blamelessness may be deceptive, as it risks breeding stagnation or overlooking subtle shortcomings. True virtue, in this view, comes not from resting in comfort, but in persistent striving. Thus, the journey of self-cultivation is depicted as unending, where the pursuit of excellence is ceaseless.

Underlying this philosophy is the belief that character is not fixed, but ever-evolving. Moral self-improvement relies not on achieving perfection, but on an unfaltering commitment to vigilance and growth. The process is nourishing, providing the energy and motivation required for continual self-upgrading. When flaws are found, rapid and sincere response ensures development. When no flaws are apparent, humility and discipline demand that one redouble their efforts, always aware that self-blindness is possible and there are always greater heights to reach.

Such a mindset cultivates humility, resilience, and a sense of responsibility, fostering both personal and communal well-being. Through this daily discipline, one not only aspires to individual excellence but also contributes more meaningfully to the world, guided by an ethic of ongoing introspection and self-renewal.