故人臣之行有六正六邪，行六正則榮，犯六邪則辱。
He acts from principle rather than convenience and does not exalt his own position. His actions are always beneficial to the state and helpful to his lord; hence, great honor accrues to him and to his sons and grandsons.
夫榮辱者，禍福之門也。
This being so, there are six proper behaviors and six perverse behaviors in the conduct of an officer.
One who observes the former will gain glory; one guilty of the latter will suffer shame.
何謂六正六邪？
Glory and shame are portals leading either to disaster or to good fortune.
六正者：一曰萌芽未動，形兆未見，昭然獨見存亡之幾，得失之要，預禁乎未然之前，使主超然立乎顯榮之處，天下稱孝焉，如此者，聖臣也。
What, then, are the six proper and the six perverse behaviors?
二曰虛心白意，進善通道，勉主以禮宜，諭主以長策，將順其美，匡救其惡，功成事立，歸善於君，不敢獨伐其勞，如此者，良臣也。
The six proper behaviors are as follows: first, one who can clearly make out the factors leading to destruction and survival, to gain and loss, before the tiniest signs and subtlest omens have appeared, and is thus able to forestall danger in advance, so that the ruler is exalted to a position of such honor and glory that all in the realm proclaim their filial devotion to him—such a one is a sage officer.
Second, one who, in an open and objective manner, gives good counsel, one who urges his ruler to act with propriety and righteousness and uses good policy to enlarge his ruler’s understanding, one who goes along with the good inclinations of his ruler and rescues him from his bad ones, and one who, when fine results are achieved, gives the credit for them to his ruler without presuming to advertise his own exertions— such a one is an honest officer.
三曰，卑身賤體，夙興夜寐，進賢不解，數稱於往古之行事，以厲主意，庶幾有益，以安國家社稷宗廟，如此者忠臣也；四曰明察幽，見成敗，早防而救之，引而復之，塞其間，絕其源，轉禍以為福，使君終以無憂，如此者，智臣也。
Third, one who is content with humble status, who rises early and retires late, who never tires of recommending worthy men for service, who often refers to past policies and decisions so as to stimulate the ruler’s mind, in the hope that this may be of benefit and serve to make the altars of the state more secure—such a one is a loyal officer.
五曰守文奉法，任官職事，辭祿讓賜，不受贈遺，衣服端齊，飲食節儉，如此者，貞臣也。
Fourth, one who investigates obscure matters with keen acumen, foresees success and failure, takes early measures to avert defeat and through his actions restores a state to its former health, one who repairs gaps and cuts off sources of trouble, turning disasters into blessings, so that the ruler may be released from all care—such a one is a prescient officer.
Fifth, one who abides by the documents and laws of the state, who is equal to the demands of his position, who renounces stipends, declines rewards, and refuses gifts, one whose dress is correct and neat, and who observes restraint in partaking of food—such a one is an officer of integrity.