A gentleman does not promote a man on account of what he says; nor does he reject sayings, because the speaker is what he is.

The superior man honors his virtuous nature, and maintains constant inquiry and study, seeking to carry it out to its breadth and greatness, so as to omit none of the more exquisite and minute points which it embraces, and to raise it to its greatest height and brilliancy.

Who contains himself goes seldom wrong.

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

By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.

The contrived language and the flattering attitude rarely come with the virtue.

In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations, they first harmonized their families. Wishing to harmonize their families, they first cultivated themselves. Wishing to cultivate themselves, they first rectified their minds. Those who wished to rectify their minds first made their intentions sincere.