述而不作

Etymology
From the Analects, Book 7 (《論語·述而》):



The identity of 老彭 was unclear. According to the 's Book of Rites (《》), a wise nobleman of the -era bore that appellation.

Idiom

 * 1)  to refrain from unwarranted innovations; to resist the temptation to speculate

Usage notes
Typically used in the context of historiography, textual criticism, classical studies, translation, etc.