All things are already complete in oneself.

A good man will certainly also possess courage; but a brave man is not necessarily good.

What is God-given is called nature; to follow nature is called Tao (the Way); to cultivate the way is called culture. Before joy, anger, sadness and happiness are expressed, they are called the inner self; when they are expressed to the proper degree, they are called harmony. The inner self is the correct foundation of the world, and the harmony is the illustrious Way. When a man has achieved the inner self and harmony, the heaven and earth are orderly and the myriad of things are nourished and grow thereby.

He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

The scholar does not consider gold and jade to be precious treasures, but loyalty and good faith.

If language is not correct, then what is said is not what is meant; if what is said is not what is meant, then what must be done remains undone; if this remains undone, morals and art will deteriorate; if justice goes astray, the people will stand about in helpless confusion. Hence there must be no arbitrariness in what is said. This matters above everything.

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