Not Boasting of Good Deeds

In this famous scene where each disciple shares his aspiration, Yan Hui—Confucius' most beloved student—offers the quietest wish: not to boast of his good qualities and not to burden others with his labors. While Zilu's aspiration is generous and outward, Yan Hui's is inward and self-effacing. Confucius' own wish follows: to comfort the old, be trusted by friends, and cherish the young.