Heaven begat Virtue in me; what can man do unto me?

In old days men studied for the sake of self-improvement; nowadays men study in order to impress other people.

The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does not forget that disorder may come. Thus his person is not endangered, and his States and all their clans are preserved.

Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs.

In a hamlet of ten households, there are bound to be those who are my equal in doing their best for others and in being trustworthy in what they say, but they are unlikely to be as eager to learn as I am.

To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.

It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.