This sentence emphasizes the importance of personal cultivation. Expressed Confucius' views on individual self-discipline and self-improvement. Confucius believes that a person should consciously restrain and cultivate himself and constantly pursue a higher moral realm and knowledge level. As long as a person can cultivate himself to a certain extent, then he can be taught and guided without getting lost or going astray.
This sentence also embodies Confucius' thought as a great educator. He believes that the purpose of education is to cultivate people's morality and wisdom, and people's own efforts and cultivation are the premise and foundation for receiving education. Therefore, he emphasized individual self-consciousness and self-discipline, and thought that only hard work can really be edified and enlightened by education.
Generally speaking, this sentence conveys the importance of personal cultivation and self-improvement, as well as the relationship between personal efforts and academic qualifications. It encourages people to consciously restrain and cultivate themselves in order to better accept teaching and grow.