Lead the people with administrative injunctions and put them in their place with penal law, and they will avoid punishments but will be without a sense of shame. Lead them with excellence and put them in their place through roles and ritual practices, and in addition to developing a sense of shame, they will order themselves harmoniously

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.

Humanity is the equity of the heart.

Expect much from yourself and little from others and you will avoid incurring resentments

The man who loves his job never works a day in his life.

To know is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge.

The Three Armies can be deprived of their commanding officer, but even a common man cannot be deprived of his purpose.