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

He who loves others is constantly loved by them. He who respects others is constantly respected by them.

Water indeed will flow indifferently to the east or west, but will it flow indifferently up or down? The tendency of our nature to good is like the tendency of water to flow downwards. There are none but have this tendency to good, just as all water flows downward.

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.

There is no greater delight than to be conscious of sincerity on self-examination.

The great person never loses a childlike spirit.

A real man is he whose goodness is a part of himself.