Modern people lack a wide view and prefer to discuss petty details. This ill trait is extremely serious in readers… If you watch how they personally act, they embellish their outer appearance and esteem their language. They are carefully moderate in even minor things, and desire to drop the names of great men in home town. They curry favour with influential Houses, and ingratiate themselves with flattery even when they are wrong. They lack a sturdiness, fail to listen to other’s opinions, lack loyalty, lack filial piety and do not trust even their close friends. They don’t know when to feel ashamed of their actions. Such people like this don’t understand what they should be doing.
The Third Year of Ansei, The 29th of May. “Minutes of the Lecturer.”
27日今人大眼目なし
今人大眼目なし、好んで瑣事末節を論ず。此の弊読書人尤も甚し。（中略）其の自ら行ふ所を見れば、辺幅を修飾し、言語を珍重し、小廉曲謹、郷里善人の名を貪り、権勢の門に伺候し、阿諛曲従至らざる所なし。行々の色著はれず、侃々の声聞こえず、忠ならず、孝ならず、尤も朋友に信ならず、而して自ら居りて愧づることを知らず。是れを之れ務を知らずと謂ふ。
安政三年五月二十九日「講孟劄記」
Yoshida Shoin 