Hexagram Statement
卦辭
正義曰：元亨者，於相隨之世，必大得亨通。若其不大亨通，則无以相隨，逆於時也。利貞者，相隨之體，須利在得正。隨而不正，則邪僻之道，必須利貞也。无咎者，有此四德，乃无咎。以茍相從，涉於朋黨，故必須四德乃无咎也。凡卦有四德者，或其卦當時之義，即有四德，如乾、坤、屯、臨、无妄，此五卦之時，即能四德備具。其隨卦以惡相隨，則不可也。有此四德乃无咎，无此四德則有咎也。與前五卦其義稍別。其《革卦》「已日乃孚」有四德，若不「已日乃孚」，則无四德，與乾、坤、屯、臨、无妄、隨其義又別。若當卦之時，其卦雖美，未有四德。若行此美，方得在後始致四德者，于卦則不言其德也。若謙、泰及復之等，德義既美，行之不已，久必致此四德。但當初之時，其德未具，故卦不顯四德也。其諸卦之三德已下，其義大略亦然也。
The Correct Meaning states: 'Sublime Beginning and Success' means that in an age of mutual following, one must attain great success and free passage. If there is no great success and free passage, then there is no basis for mutual following, which would be contrary to the time.
'Benefit and Correctness' means that in the substance of mutual following, the benefit must lie in attaining what is correct. If one follows without correctness, that is the way of deviance and crookedness; thus Benefit and Correctness are essential.
'No blame' means that only with these four virtues is there no blame. If one follows carelessly and becomes entangled in factionalism, then one must possess these four virtues to be without blame.
In general, hexagrams that have the four virtues either inherently possess all four virtues by the meaning of their time, such as Qian, Kun, Zhun, Lin, and Wuwang -- at the time of these five hexagrams, the four virtues are fully present.
But if the Following hexagram involves following in wickedness, that is impermissible. Having these four virtues yields no blame; lacking these four virtues yields blame. This differs somewhat from the preceding five hexagrams.
The Revolution hexagram has 'When the appointed day arrives, there is sincerity' and possesses the four virtues; if there is no 'appointed day with sincerity,' then there are no four virtues -- this differs again from Qian, Kun, Zhun, Lin, Wuwang, and Sui.
If at the time of a hexagram, the hexagram is fine in itself but does not yet have the four virtues, and only by practicing what is fine can one eventually attain the four virtues afterward, then the hexagram text does not mention its virtues.
With hexagrams like Qian (Modesty), Tai (Peace), and Fu (Return), their virtue and meaning are already fine, and if practiced unceasingly, one will in time surely attain these four virtues. But at the initial time, the virtues are not yet complete, so the hexagram does not display the four virtues.
For all other hexagrams with three virtues or fewer, the principle is broadly the same.
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Source: eee-learning.com (易學網) · Edition: 武英殿十三經注疏