色厲內荏

From the Analects, Book 17 (《論語·陽貨》):

子曰：「色厲而內荏，譬諸小人，其猶穿窬之盜也與？」 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]

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子曰：「色厉而内荏，譬诸小人，其犹穿窬之盗也与？」 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]

From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Zǐyuē: “Sè lì ér nèi rěn, pì zhū xiǎorén, qí yóu chuān yú zhī dào yě yú?” [Pinyin]

The Master said, "He who puts on an appearance of stern firmness, while inwardly he is weak, is like one of the small, mean people - yea, is he not like the thief who breaks through, or climbs over, a wall?"

色厲內荏

1. to appear tough on the outside but be weak and timid on the inside