A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do we know that his future will not be equal to our present? If he reach the age of forty or fifty, and has not made himself heard of, then indeed he will not be worth being regarded with respect.

Everyone calls his son his son, whether he has talents or has not talents.

The Superior Man is aware of Righteousness, the inferior man is aware of advantage.

If one should desire to know whether a kingdom is well governed, if its morals are good or bad, the quality of its music will furnish the answer.

The superior man sets his person at rest before he moves; he composes his mind before he speaks.

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.

The superior man governs men, according to their nature, with what is proper to them, and as soon as they change what is wrong, he stops.