Knowing shame is almost brave. Literally, The Book of Rites means knowing shame is almost brave. The courage of Confucianism to "know shame and be brave" is to be brave in change. Here, shame and courage are equated, which means to let people know shame and have the courage to correct it. This is a quality worthy of admiration and boasting. It is an appreciation of the behavior of people who know shame and then change. "Shame on yourself" means that you know shame when you act.