Virtue is not solitary; it is bound to have neighbors

While you are not able to serve men, how can you serve spirits of the dead...While you do not know life, how can you know about death

Only by perfect virtue can the perfect path, in all its courses, be made a fact.

If you yourself desire establishment, then help others to get establishment; if you yourself want success, then help others to attain success.

Though Confucius served the Duke of Lu, a Chinese state, he made many enemies with the nobles of the land. His views antagonized the powerful nobles, who wanted the Duke to be a puppet in their hands. Confucius was exiled from the State of Lu for more than two decades. He lived in the countryside, spreading his teachings.

When we have intelligence resulting from sincerity, this condition is to be ascribed to nature; when we have sincerity resulting from intelligence, this condition is to be ascribed to instruction. But given the sincerity, and there shall be the intelligence; given the intelligence, and there shall be the sincerity.

Cultivate the root; the leaves and branches will take care of themselves.