When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself.

Men of principle are always bold, but bold men are not always men of principle.

Chi Wen Tzu always thought three times before taking action. Twice would have been quite enough.

If you don't know how to serve men, why worry about serving the gods?

The gods should certainly be revered, but kept at a distance... . The way is not beyond man; he who creates a way outside of man cannot make it a true way. A good man is content with changing man, and that is enough for him.

To be fond of learning is to draw close to wisdom. To practice with vigor is to draw close to benevolence. To know the sense of shame is to draw close to courage. He who knows these three things knows how to cultivate his own character. Knowing how to cultivate his own character, he knows how to govern other men. Knowing how to govern other men, he knows how to govern the world, its states, and its families.

To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.

If you don't know how to live, why wonder about death?

We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression; the heart of a wise man should resemble a mirror, which reflects every object without being sullied by any

To err and not reform, this may indeed be called error.