Quotes of All Topics . Occasions . Authors
The commander of the forces of a large State may be carried off, but the will of even a common man cannot be taken from him.
The superior person is in harmony, but does not follow the crowd. The lesser person follows the crowd, but is not in harmony.
A gentleman does not promote a man on account of what he says; nor does he reject sayings, because the speaker is what he is.
I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge; I am one who is fond of antiquity, and earnest in seeking it there.
A gentleman can see a question from all sides without bias. The small man is biased and can see a question only from one side.
When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points.
If you shoot for the stars and hit the moon, it's OK. But you've got to shoot for something. A lot of people don't even shoot.
The one who was born a genius can't win against the one who tries, and the one who tries can't win against the one who enjoys.
Do not unto another that you would hot have him do unto you. Thou needest this law alone. It is the foundation of all the rest.
With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bent arm for a pillow - I have still joy in the midst of all these things.
Balance is the perfect state of still water. Let that be our model. It remains quiet within and is not disturbed on the surface.
The book salesman should be honored because he brings to our attention, as a rule, the very books we need most and neglect most.
Is any one able for one day to apply his strength to virtue? I have not seen the case in which his strength would be sufficient.
If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.
A good man regards the root; he fixes the root, and ail else flows out of it. The root is filial piety; the fruit brotherly love.
He who is really good can never be unhappy. He who is really wise can never be perplexed. He who is really brave is never afraid.
The most beautiful sight in the world is a little child going confidently down the road of life after you have shown him the way.
If some years were added to my life, I would give fifty to the study of the Yi, and then I might come to be without great faults.
One who has accumulated virtue will certainly also possess eloquence; but he who has eloquence doe not necessarily possess virtue.
It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.
What the great learning teaches, is to illustrate illustrious virtue; to renovate the people; and to rest in the highest excellence.
In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.
While you are not able to serve men, how can you serve spirits of the dead...While you do not know life, how can you know about death
I have not seen a person who loved virtue, or one who hated what was not virtuous. He who loved virtue would esteem nothing above it.
If doing what ought to be done be made the first business and success a secondary consideration--is not this the way to exalt virtue?
The superior man, even when he is not moving, has a feeling of reverence, and while he speaks not, he has the feeling of truthfulness.
Rate the task above the prize; will not the mind be raised? Fight thine own faults, not the faults of others; will not evil be mended?
From the Son of Heaven down to the mass of the people, all must consider the cultivation of the person the root of everything besides.
He Who Knows And Knows That He Knows Is A Wise Man - Follow Him; He Who Knows Not And Knows Not That He Knows Not Is A Fool - Shun Him
That a man lives is because he is straight. That a man who dupes others survives is because he has been fortunate enough to be spared.
When I am with others, they are my teachers. I can select their good points and follow them, and select their bad points and avoid them.
When you know a thing, to hold that you know it, and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it - this is knowledge.
The Master said, I set my heart on the Way, base myself on virtue, lean upon benevolence for support and take my recreation in the arts.
The good man does not grieve that other people do not recognize his merits. His only anxiety is lest he should fail to recognize theirs.
A superior man may be made to go to the well, but he cannot be made to go down into it. He may be imposed upon, but he cannot be fooled.
It was by music that the ancient kings gave elegant expression to their joy. By their armies and axes they gave the same to their anger.
When you locate good in yourself, approve of it with determination. When you locate evil in yourself, despise it as something detestable.
The superior man governs men, according to their nature, with what is proper to them, and as soon as they change what is wrong, he stops.
Just as lavishness leads easily to presumption, so does frugality to meanness. But meanness is a far less serious fault than presumption.
For one word a man is often deemed to be wise, and for one word he is often deemed to be foolish. We should be careful indeed what we say.
He who keeps danger in mind, is he who will rest safe in his seat; he who keeps ruin in mind, is he who will preserve his interests secure.
To be fond of learning is near to wisdom; to practice with vigor is near to benevolence; and to be conscious of shame is near to fortitude.
If your plan is for one year plant rice. If your plan is for ten years plant trees. If your plan is for one hundred years educate children.
I used to take on trust a man's deeds after having listened to his words. Now having listened to a man's words I go on to observe his deeds.
Conscience is the inner voice which warns us that someone might be looking. Hear and you forget, see and you remember, do and you understand.
The shortest distance between any two points on a golf course is a straight line that passes directly through the center of a very large tree.
If language is not rectified, words do not correspond to meaning, and if words do not correspond to meaning, our deeds cannot be accomplished.
If you yourself desire establishment, then help others to get establishment; if you yourself want success, then help others to attain success.
In the Book of Poetry there are three hundred poems, but the meaning of all of them may be put in a single sentence: Have no debasing thoughts.
When one cultivates to the utmost the principles of his nature, and exercises them on the principle of reciprocity, he is not far from the path.