If your desire is for good, the people will be good.

Settle one difficulty, and you keep a hundred away.

A country of a thousand war-chariots cannot be administered unless the ruler attends strictly to business, punctually observes his promises, is economical in expenditure, loves the people, and uses the labor of the peasantry only at the proper times of year.

Music is the one thing in which there is no use trying to deceive others or make false pretenses.

You must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.

I do not enlighten those who are not eager to learn, nor arouse those who are not anxious to give an explanation themselves. If I have presented one corner of the square and they cannot come back to me with the other three, I should not go over the points again.

As the water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it, so a wise man adapts himself to circumstances.