While the gentleman cherishes benign rule, the small man cherishes his native land. While the gentleman cherishes a respect for the law, the small man cherishes generous treatment.

He who fails to prepare, prepares to fail

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.

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.

Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.

Among the appliances to transform the people, sound and appearances are but trivial influences.

A lack of patience in trifling matters might lead to the disruption of great project.