The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.

By the ruler's cultivation of his own character there is set up the example of the course which all should pursue.

He who sling mud, lose ground.

Every piece of marble has a statue in it waiting to be released by a person of sufficient skill to chip away the unnecessary parts. Just as the sculptor is to the marble, so is education to the soul. It releases it. For only educated people are free people. You cannot create a statue by smashing the marble with a hammer, and you cannot by the force of arms release the spirit or the soul of people.

When the multitude detests a man, inquiry is necessary; when the multitude likes a man, inquiry is equally necessary.

The way of the superior man may be compared to what takes place in traveling, when to go to a distance we must first traverse the space that is near, and in ascending a height, when we must begin from the lower ground.

To think twice is quite enough.