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

If doing what ought to be done be made the first business and success a secondary consideration--is not this the way to exalt virtue?

Care not for want of place; care for thy readiness to fill one. Care not for being unknown, but seek to be worthy of note.

Every man knows the smell of his own fart.

There are 3 elements essential in the matters of the State, Food, Military equipment, and Confidence of the people in the ruler. Of these 3, Military Equipment is the least important, Food being the 2nd important, and Confidence of the people being the MOST important. All men rather die of starvation than in war, but nevertheless all men do die of old age. Lacking in Confidence from the people, a state cannot survive.

Know what you know and know that you don't know what you don't know — that is the characteristic of one who knows.

Every truth has four corners: as a teacher I give you one corner, and it is for you to find the other three.