At seventy, I could follow the dictates of my own heart; for what I desired no longer overstepped the boundaries of right.

How transcendent is the virtue of the middle conduct! Rare for a long time has been its practice among the people.

The main object of conciliation lies in reaching a solution to a case based upon morals and with a warm heart.

It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get.

Things being investigated, knowledge became complete. Their knowledge being complete, their thoughts were sincere. Their thoughts being sincere, their hearts were then rectified. Their hearts being rectified, their persons were cultivated. Their persons being cultivated, their families were regulated. Their families being regulated, their States were rightly governed. Their States being rightly governed, the whole kingdom was made tranquil and happy.

Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.

The wise man admires water, the kind man admires mountains. The wise man moves, the kind man rests. The wise man is happy, the kind man is firm.