《荀子·天论》
君子慎重对待那些取决于自己的事情，而不去羡慕那些取决于上天的东西，因此天天进步；小人丢下那些取决于自己。的事情，而指望那些取决于上天的东西，因此天天退步。
君子敬其在己者，而不慕其在天者，是以日进也；小人错其在己者，而慕其在天者，是以日退也。
Gentlemen are cautious about those things that depend on themselves, and do not envy those things that depend on heaven, and so they progress every day; petty people abandon those things that depend on themselves, and hope for those things that depend on heaven, and so they regress every day.