Zhi, or wisdom, was brought into the ethic standard system by Confucius. The saint defined the personality of "the wise" as "a wise man free from perplexities". The real man of wisdom shall not only be able to distinguish truth from falsehood, but also be rational and sane; he shall never get perplexed in front of profits or different paths. That is to say, the wisdom concerns not only one person's ability and aptitude, but also his moral cultivation. Only those who know about destiny, manners, speeches and people would be truly "free from perplexities".

Knowing destiny means seeing into poverty and prosperity and keeping a peaceful mind whether in adversity or prosperity. Manners refer to social codes of conduct and shared social order that restricted one's conducts. Knowing manners makes one aware of how to give and take, act appropriately and easily make a living in society. Knowing speeches refers to being a good speaker and a good listener. Knowing people makes one able to recognize and recommend the virtuous and talented.

Confucius also pointed out that the acquisition of "wisdom" lies in learning. Wisdom can be obtained from both books and life.