In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations, they first harmonized their families. Wishing to harmonize their families, they first cultivated themselves. Wishing to cultivate themselves, they first rectified their minds. Those who wished to rectify their minds first made their intentions sincere.

The superior man... does not set his mind either for or against anything, he will pursue whatever is right. The superior man thinks of virtue, the common man of comfort.

If my mind be not engaged in worship, it is as though I worshipped not.

Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.

The wheel of fortune turns round incessantly, and who can say to himself, I shall today be uppermost.

The scholar does not consider gold and jade to be precious treasures, but loyalty and good faith.

To acknowledge our faults when we are blamed, is modesty; to discover them to one's friends in ingenuousness, is confidence; but to preach them to all the world, if one does not take care, is pride.