What does it mean to be mediocre without being envied?

I have a clear conscience even if someone slanders me.

From the autobiography of Zi Liu Zi written by Liu Yuxi in Tang Dynasty.

Excerpt from the original:

Not cheap, not cheap, heaven is auspicious. It's amazing that so many people are tired. Heaven and strength, do not give. Despite the rumors from outside, my conscience is still innocent.

Translation:

It is a natural blessing not to die young, neither humble nor supercilious. This is a disaster, but it is not good. Gifted, don't let me display. I have a clear conscience even if someone slanders me.

Extended data

Liu Yuxi was once an imperial adviser and was known as a "poet". His family is a scholarly family handed down from generation to generation by Confucianism. Advocating political innovation is one of the core figures of the Wang school's political innovation activities.

Later, Yongzhen failed in innovation and was demoted to Sima Langzhou (now Changde, Hunan). According to the textual research of Mr. Zhou, a historian and collector in Changde, Hunan Province, Liu Yuxi was demoted to Sima Langzhou, during which he wrote the famous "Han Shou Chun Wang".

Liu Yuxi and his poetic style are quite unique. He is resolute and full of heroism. During his years in exile, he really felt heavy psychological pain and sang a lamentation for lonely ministers.

However, he never despaired. He has the soul of a fighter. He wrote ten years after Yuan He was summoned to Beijing Opera from Langzhou, revisiting Guanluo Valley in Du Xuan, singing a hundred tongues, gathering mosquitoes, flying kites, and on Hua Tuo, and repeatedly satirized and criticized his political opponents.

This led to political repression and attacks again and again, but this repression and attack aroused his stronger resentment and resistance, and strengthened his poetic temperament from different aspects.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Autobiography of Zi Liu Zi