Ask yourself constantly, "What is the right thing to do?" Behave toward everyone as if receiving a great guest.

The gentleman has nine cares. In seeing he is careful to see clearly; in hearing he is careful to hear distinctly; in his looks he is careful to be kind, in his manner to be respectful, in his words to be sincere, in his work to be diligent. When in doubt he is careful to ask for information; when angry he has a care for the consequences; and when he sees a chance for gain, he thinks carefully whether the pursuits of it would be right.

The object of the superior man is truth.

A blemish may be removed from a diamond by careful polishing, but evil words once spoken cannot be effaced.

When wealth is centralized, the people are dispersed. When wealth is distributed, the people are brought together.

The failure to cultivate virtue, the failure to examine and analyze what I have learned, the inability to move toward righteousness after being shown the way, the inability to correct my faults-these are the causes of my grief.

Therefore the superior man is watchful over himself, when he is alone.