Round wisdom and square conduct ask that a person's thought be as round as a circle, open and adaptable to events and clear in what it sees, and that his conduct be as upright as a square, keeping to the rules and not leaning to one side.
In the Spring and Autumn period Confucius said "the wise are free from doubt" and listed wisdom among the gentleman's three universal virtues.
The Wenzi and the Western Han Huainanzi both record the line "wisdom should be round and conduct should be square", and the maxim took shape from this.
Wisdom is the class in the chapter on Values on wisdom and conduct. Confucius listed wisdom among the gentleman's three universal virtues; the Wenzi and the Huainanzi then say that "wisdom should be round and conduct should be square", asking for thought that is rounded and open and for action that is upright.
