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

The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat.

The only people who cannot change are the most wise and the most stupid.

Straight-forwardness, without the rules of propriety, becomes rudeness.

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

Don't be concerned about others not appreciating you. Be concerned about your not appreciating others.

I have never seen one who really loves goodness or one who really hates wickedness. One who really loves goodness will not place anything above it. One who really hates wickedness will practice goodness in such a way that wickedness will have no chance to get at him. Is there anyone who has devoted his whole strength to doing good for even as long as a single day? I have not seen anyone give up such an attempt because he had not the strength to go on. Perhaps there is such a case, but I have never seen it.