Gentlemen cherish worth; the vulgar cherish dirt. Gentlemen trust in justice; the vulgar trust in favor.

Look at the means which a man employs, consider his motives, observe his pleasures. A man simply cannot conceal himself!

One who is by nature daring and is suffering from poverty will not long be law-abiding. Indeed, any men, save those that are truly good, if their sufferings are very great, will be likely to rebel.

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

You can successfully force people to follow a certain course, but you cannot force them to understand it.

By the ruler's cultivation of his own character there is set up the example of the course which all should pursue.

He who is really good can never be unhappy. He who is really wise can never be perplexed. He who is really brave is never afraid.