Examining oneself three times a day

This is a saying from The Analects of Confucius. It encourages people to repeatedly reflect on their own conduct every day in order to identify their shortcomings and fix their errors. This is an approach to moral examination advocated by the Confucian school, which believed that the effort one invests will determine one's moral attainment, so one ought to consistently review one's words, deeds and inner world in order to improve one's morality.

Speaking at the meeting, held by the CPC Central Committee in June 2013, to launch the Program of Mass Line Education and Practice, Xi Jinping talked about the general requirements to "examine oneself in the mirror, straighten one's clothes and hat, take a bath, and treat one's disease." He said: To "straighten one's clothes and hat" means that one should, after examining oneself in the mirror and based on the principles of serving the people, being down-to-earth in one's work and upholding integrity, dare to face one's weaknesses and shortcomings, strictly observe the Party's discipline, especially its political discipline, start with themselves in facing up to problems, and take immediate steps to rectify their conduct. They should take the initiative to renew their faith in the Party character, review their obligations as Party members, and strengthen their resolve to observe Party discipline and state laws, so as to present a positive image as good Communists. It is not enough to "straighten one's clothes and hat" only once, they need to "examine themselves three times a day."

吾日三省吾身

“吾日三省吾身”出自《論語》，意指每天多次反省自己、檢視自己，發現自身缺點，彌補自身不足。“吾日三省吾身”是儒家所主張的一種道德方法，認為德行的確立取決于自身的努力和追求，因此需要時時反省自己的言行與內心，并以此作為修養道德的基本方法。

2013年6月，習近平在黨的群眾路線教育實踐活動工作會議上談及“照鏡子、正衣冠、洗洗澡、治治病”的總要求時，指出正衣冠，主要是在照鏡子的基礎上，按照為民務實清廉的要求，勇于正視缺點和不足，嚴明黨的紀律特別是政治紀律，敢于觸及思想、正視矛盾和問題，從自己做起，從現在改起，端正行為，自覺把黨性修養正一正、把黨員義務理一理、把黨紀國法緊一緊，保持共產黨人良好形象。正衣冠往往一天一次不夠，需要“吾日三省吾身”。