The gentleman holds justice to be of highest importance. If a gentleman has courage but neglects justice, he becomes insurgent. If an inferior man has courage but neglects justice, he becomes a thief.

The demands that a great man makes are on himself; those of a petty man are upon others.

Behave when away from home as though you were in the presence of an honored guest. Employ the people as though you were assisting at an important sacrifice. Do not do to others what you would not like yourself. Then there will be no feelings of opposition to you, whether it is the affairs of a state that you are handling or the affairs of a family.

The gods should certainly be revered, but kept at a distance... . The way is not beyond man; he who creates a way outside of man cannot make it a true way. A good man is content with changing man, and that is enough for him.

When a man feels the difficulty of doing, can he be other than cautious and slow in speaking?

To know that one knows what one knows, and to know that one doesn't know what one doesn't know, there lies true wisdom.

To know your faults and be able to change is the greatest virtue.