Man is born for uprightness. If a man lose his uprightness and yet live, his escape from death is mere good fortune.

It is the obligation of the ruler to continually renew himself in order to renew the people by his example.

There are three unfilial acts: the greatest of these is the failure to produce sons.

True knowledge is when one knows the limitations of one's knowledge.

To take what you know for what you know, and what you do not know for what you do not know, that is knowledge indeed.

We take greater pains to persuade others that we are happy than in endeavoring to think so ourselves

Even if I could, I would not exahnge their virtues for my own. And that is why they are intent on learning from me.