Mixing With the World's Wind and Grit

While you have not yet disciplined yourself,
It is best not to take steps into the world of dust and din,
    Nor to expose the mind to desirable things and then to confusion.
Thus you keep pure the self's peaceful substance.
When self-control is firm,
Then you are ready to mix your steps with the world's wind and grit,
    To let your heart see what is tempting and yet not be confounded.
Thus you sustain the self's versatility.

                                                                        ---Hung Ying-ming---