How great is the path proper to the Sage! Like overflowing water, it sends forth and nourishes all things, and rises up to the height of heaven. All-complete is its greatness! It embraces the three hundred rules of ceremony, and the three thousand rules of demeanor. It waits for the proper man, and then it is trodden. Hence it is said, 'Only by perfect virtue can the perfect path, in all its courses, be made a fact.'

The superior person is in harmony, but does not follow the crowd. The lesser person follows the crowd, but is not in harmony.

A wise man seeks by music to strengthen his soul: the thoughtless one uses it to stifle his fears.

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.

Let mourning stop when one's grief is fully expressed.

Humankind differs from the animals only by a little and most people throw that away.

He who rules by moral force is like the pole star, which remains in place while all the lesser stars do homage to it.