The virtuous will be sure to speak uprightly; but those whose speech is upright may not be virtuous.

Rate the task above the prize; will not the mind be raised? Fight thine own faults, not the faults of others; will not evil be mended?

The virtuous will be sure to speak uprightly; but those whose speech is upright may not be virtuous.

What Heaven has conferred is called The Nature; an accordance with this nature is called The Path of duty; the regulation of this path is called Instruction. The path may not be left for an instant. If it could be left, it would not be the path.

Without goodness a man cannot endure adversity for long, nor can he enjoy prosperity for long. The good man is naturally at ease with goodness. The wise man cultivates goodness for its advantage.

If an urn lacks the characteristics of an urn, how can we call it an urn?

A man should practice what he preaches, but a man should also preach what he practices.