To act without clear understanding, to form habits without investigation, to follow a path all one's life without knowing where it really leads; such is the behavior of the multitude.

When the men of antiquity realized their wishes, benefits were conferred by them on the people. If they did not realize their wishes, they cultivated their personal character, and became illustrious in the world. If poor, they attended to their own virtue in solitude; if advanced to dignity, they made the whole empire virtuous as well.

He who attends to his greater self becomes a great man, and he who attends to his smaller self becomes a small man.

There is the work of great men and there is the work of little men. Therefore it is said, 'Some labor with their minds and some labor with their strength. Those who labor with their minds govern others; those who labor with their strength are governed by others.'1 Those who are governed by others support them; those who govern them are supported by them. This is a universal principle.

When Heaven is about to confer a great office upon you, it first exercises your mind with suffering and your sinews and bones with toil.

A man must first despise himself, and then others will despise him.

The way is One and only One. The way is close at hand, but men seek it afar.