今日山東鄆城地，
西漢時候稱東郡。
當時有個韓延壽，
曾在東郡做太守。
部下勸告能聽取，
經常采納好建議。
東郡治理非常好，
延壽因此有名氣。
一直在那做太守，
後來調到左馮翊（yì），
即今陝西大荔州，
頭幾年，從未到各縣去巡視。
有一次一個部下提醒他，
勸他下去走一走，
了解民情怎麼樣，
以及各縣啥政績。
延壽說，各縣官長很賢明，
下屬也能勤效力，
巡視恐怕沒必要。
那位部下不服氣，
連說正當春耕時，
可以看看耕種事。
延壽一想也在理，
隨即收拾出城去。
到了高陵縣境內，
告狀來了倆兄弟，
隻因互相爭田產，
請求延壽給評理。
對此事，延壽心中生感觸，
他認為，百姓爭端責在己。
自己身為父母官，
教化百姓有不及。
有傷風情與教化，
賢人孝子以為恥。
想到此，他決定讓賢要退職，
稱病不再理政事。
地方官員見此情，
深感自身也失職。
就連那互爭田地的兄弟倆，
也來認罪各責己。
延壽以酒來款待，
對他們知過悔過多勉勵。
延壽複出又重理政，
二十四縣都巡及。
下屬及百姓更敬重，
從此再無爭訟事。
到後來“閉門思過”作成語，
常與閉門自省的行為比。
自知之明是美德，
人人難免犯過失，
能夠自我作批評，
對自身修養最有益。
Pondering Behind a Closed Door
In the present Yuncheng County，Shandong Province which was called Dongjun during the Western Han Dynasty（206B。C。—24A。D。），there was a person named Han Yanshou，who was viceroy of the district。He always kept himself advised，and often adopted his subordinates'constructive suggestions。In this way Dongjun was run very well。
By and by，Yanshou was well-known for his advisability，and so he continued to be a good viceroy。Later he was transferred to Zuofengyi，the present Dalizhou of Shaanxi Province。There he made no inspections in the first few years。One day a subordinate of his reminded him about going around and making an inspection to learn how the people lived，and what the county leaders had acplished。
“Officers of each county are able and wise，”Yanshou said，“and their staff are also diligent，so the inspection would be of little value。”