If you know your mistakes and can correct them, there is no greater good.

Pronunciation: zhī cuò néng gǎi, shàn mò dà yān,

Definition: It means that after a person makes a mistake, it is the best thing to be able to recognize and correct the mistake.

From: "Zuo Zhuan·The Second Year of Xuangong"

"Zuo Zhuan·The Second Year of Xuangong": "I know what I have done wrong, and I will correct it." He looked at his head and answered. Said: "Who has no faults? If you can correct your faults, there is no greater good."

Translation: In the Spring and Autumn Period, Jin Linggong was unruly and killed innocent people indiscriminately. The minister Ji Jin remonstrated. Duke Ling immediately said: "I know it, and I must change it." Shi Ji happily said to him: "Who has never made a mistake? If you can correct your mistakes, there is no greater good." Unfortunately, Duke Ling of Jin did not keep his word. The cruelty remained the same, and he was eventually assassinated by his subordinates.

Extended information:

Allusion:

During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhou Chu was considered by the villagers to be one of the three pests along with the giant dragon and the white-fronted tiger. Zhou Chu killed him After Jiaohu died, he learned that he was the most worried about by the villagers, so he found Lu Yun and decided to change his ways, and eventually became a loyal minister.

Original text: When Zhou Chu was young, he was fierce and chivalrous and was a trouble for the village. There were also dragons in the water in Yixing and white-fronted tigers in the mountains, and they all violently attacked the people. People in Yixing call it three horizontal lines, but it is particularly dramatic.

It may be said that tigers and dragons are killed everywhere, but in fact only one of the three horizontal lines in Hebei is left. He immediately assassinated the tiger and entered the water to attack the dragon. The dragon floats or disappears, traveling for dozens of miles, following it everywhere. After three days and three nights, everyone in the village said he was dead and even celebrated. He actually killed the dragon and came out. Hearing that the people inside were celebrating each other, he realized that he was suffering from human feelings and wanted to change himself.

He then entered Wu to search for two continents. The plain is no longer there, and the Qinghe River is in sight. He expresses his feelings and says that he wants to correct himself, but the years have been wasted and nothing has been accomplished. Qinghe said: "The ancients valued people who died in the morning and heard about it in the evening. Kuang Jun's future is still good. Moreover, people are suffering from unfulfilled ambitions, so why worry about their reputation not being revealed?" Chu then changed his attitude and eventually became a loyal minister.

Translation:

When Zhou Chu was young in the Jin Dynasty, he was considered a scourge by the villagers because he was aggressive and aggressive. At that time, the people of Yixing called the dragon in the river, the white tiger in the mountain and Zhou Chu the three evils. Moreover, the villagers believed that among the three evils, Zhou Chu was the most harmful to the villagers.

A villager came up with an idea and instigated Zhou Chu to kill the white tiger and the dragon. In fact, he hoped that these three evils would fight each other and at least two of them could be eliminated. So Zhou Chu, who was brave and courageous, first killed the tiger and then the dragon.

When Zhou Chu was fighting with the dragon, he drifted for dozens of miles with the current. After three days and three nights, the villagers still saw no trace of Zhou Chu. They all thought he had been bitten to death by a dragon and shouted in celebration. At this time, Zhou Chu, who had killed the dragon, emerged from the water. Hearing people's shouts, he realized that he was a scourge in the eyes of the villagers.

Zhou Chu felt ashamed and regretful, so he went to Wu County to find famous scholars Lu Ji and Lu Yun and wanted to ask them for advice. Since Lu Ji was not there, Zhou Chu only saw Lu Yun. Zhou Chu told Lu Yun his situation without any secret, and expressed his wish to change for the better. But he worries that even so, he may end up accomplishing nothing.

Lu Yun comforted him: The ancients valued morality and justice. There is a saying that if you hear the truth in the morning, you will die by the evening. Besides, your future is still promising. Besides, what people fear most is not having ambition. If you have ambition, why should you worry about your reputation not spreading far and wide? Zhou Chu suddenly woke up, abandoned evil and did good, and became an upright and loyal minister.