Trees bend low with ripened fruit; clouds hang down with gentle rain; noble people bow graciously. This is the way of generous things.

The constant man loses not his virtue in misfortune. A torch may point towards the ground, but its flame will still point upwards.

Trees bend low with ripened fruit; clouds hang down with gentle rain; noble people bow graciously. This is the way of generous things.

Trees loaded with fruit are bent down; the clouds when charged with fresh rain hang down near the earth: even so good men are not uplifted through prosperity. Such is the natural character of the liberal.

Idleness is a great enemy to mankind. There is no friend like energy, for, if you cultivate that, it will never fail.

Let us keep a firm grip upon our money, for without it the whole assembly of virtues are but as blades of grass.

Kindness can turn the bad man's heart, and fools convert to wise, Make poison into nectar-juice, and friends of enemies.