《淮南子·汜论训》
所以圣人只是将礼仪形式用于一般的人际交往，而以实际的态度来做该怎样就怎样的事，不拘泥于条条框框，不凝固呆板，所以是失败的事少，成功的事多，政令通行于天下而不被人非议。
是故圣人以文交于世，而以实从事于宜，不结于一迹之涂，凝滞而不化，是故败事小而成事多，号令行于天下而莫之能非矣。
So the sage just uses rites to regulate common human relationships, but in doing whatever should be done, he adopts a realistic attitude, not sticking to rigid categories and not becoming frozen and set in his ways, so his failures are few and his successes are many, his policies being effective throughout the world without attracting criticism.