Pity the nation whose statesman is a fox, whose philosopher is a juggler, and whose art is the art of patching and mimicking. Pity the nation that welcomes its new ruler with trumpetings, and farewells him with hootings, only to welcome another ruler with trumpetings again. Pity the nation whose sages are dumb with years and whose strong men are yet in the cradle. Pity the nation divided into fragments, each fragment deeming itself a nation.

Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter’s oven?

Your saying 'I do not understand you' is praise beyond my worth, and an insult you do not deserve.

You have been told that, even like a chain, you are as weak as your weakest link. This is but half the truth. You are also as strong as your strongest link. To measure you by your smallest deed is to reckon the power of ocean by the frailty of its foam. To judge you by your failures is to cast blame upon the seasons for their inconstancy.

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.

Sow a seed and the earth will yield you a flower. Dream your dream to the sky and it will bring you your beloved.

A hermit is one who renounces the world of fragments that he may enjoy the world wholly and without interruption.