Ch’ü-tzŭ saw a stone lying in his path which he took to be a reclining tiger

With one shout the brave officer puts to flight all the three armies: it is because of his sincerity. Of old Hsiung Ch’ü-tzŭ of Ch’u was traveling at night. He saw a stone lying in his path which he took to be a reclining tiger. Bending his bow, he shot it, so that the head of the arrow was buried up to the feathers. When he looked down and realized it was a stone, he then again shot it, but the arrow bounced off without leaving a mark. When Hsiung Ch’ü-tzŭ showed a sincere mind, metal and stone opened up for him; how much the more will men!

Now if a person initiates a thing and others do not join in with him, or if when he acts others do not agree, it is certainly because he is not complete within. The man who rules the empire without descending from his mat has sought in himself for sincerity.

Confucius said, "When a prince's personal conduct is correct, his government is effective without the issuing of orders. If his personal conduct is not correct, he may issue orders, but they will not be followed." That the Former Kings were able to attract to themselves as guests everyone in the world by bowing and grasping a signal flag was because of the acme of sincere virtue which showed in their external aspect.

The Ode says,

The king's plans were true and sincere,
And the country of Hsü submitted.

勇士一呼，三军皆避，士之诚也。昔者、楚熊渠子夜行，寝石以为伏虎，弯弓而射之，没金饮羽，下视，知其为石，石为之开，而况人乎！夫倡而不和，动而不偾，中心有不全者矣。夫不降席而匡天下者、求之己也。孔子曰：“其身正，不令而行；其身不正，虽令不从。”先王之所以拱揖指麾，而四海来宾者、诚德之至也，色以形于外也。《诗》曰：“王猷允塞，徐方既来。”

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