At 15 I set my heart on learning; At 30 I firmly took my stand; At 40 I had no delusions; At 50 I knew the Mandate of Heaven; At 60 my ear was attuned; At 70 I followed my heart's desire without overstepping the boundaries of right.

Three things cannot long be hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.

A workman who wants to do his work well must first prepare his tools.

Let every man consider virtue as what devolves on himself. He may not yield the performance of it even to his teacher.

Teachers open the door ... you enter by yourself.

All things are already complete in oneself.

Heaven is author of the virtue that is in me