A person of character takes as much trouble to discover what is right as the lesser men take to discover what will pay.

Listen widely to remove your doubts and be careful when speaking about the rest and your mistakes will be few. See much and get rid of what is dangerous and be careful in acting on the rest and your causes for regret will be few. Speaking without fault, acting without causing regret: 'upgrading' consists in this.

To take what you know for what you know, and what you do not know for what you do not know, that is knowledge indeed.

To find the Tao, there is nowhere you need to search. If it is not inside you, it is not the Tao.

How great is the path proper to the Sage! Like overflowing water, it sends forth and nourishes all things, and rises up to the height of heaven. All-complete is its greatness! It embraces the three hundred rules of ceremony, and the three thousand rules of demeanor. It waits for the proper man, and then it is trodden. Hence it is said, 'Only by perfect virtue can the perfect path, in all its courses, be made a fact.'

A youth, when at home, should be filial, and, abroad, respectful to his elders.

When the multitude detests a man, inquiry is necessary; when the multitude likes a man, inquiry is equally necessary.