By gaining the people, the kingdom is gained; by losing the people, the kingdom is lost.

Women and people of low birth are very hard to deal with. If you are friendly to them, they get out of hand, and if you keep your distance, they resent it.

Be loyal to yourself, charitable to neighbours, nothing more.

Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.

Friendship with the upright, with the truthful and with the well informed is beneficial. Friendship with those who flatter, with those who are meek and who compromise with principles, and with those who talk cleverly is harmful.

Be strict with yourself but least reproachful of others and complaint is kept afar.

I live in a very small house, but my windows look out on a very large world.