Charity is in the heart of man, and righteousness in the path of men. Pity the man who has lost his path and does not follow it and who has lost his heart and does not know how to recover it. When people's dogs and chicks are lost they go out and look for them and yet the people who have lost their hearts do not go out and look for them. The principle of self-cultivation consists in nothing but trying to look for the lost heart.

So I like life and I like righteousness; if I cannot keep the two together, I will let life go and choose righteousness.

Where it is permissible both to die and not to die, it is an abuse of valour to die.

Secure property in hand leads to peace in mind.

Only those who develop their minds and spirits to the utmost can serve Heaven and fulfill their own destinies.

When one by force subdues men, they do not submit to him in heart. They submit because their strength is not adequate to resist.

Charity is in the heart of man, and righteousness in the path of men. Pity the man who has lost his path and does not follow it and who has lost his heart and does not know how to recover it. When people's dogs and chicks are lost they go out and look for them and yet the people who have lost their hearts do not go out and look for them. The principle of self-cultivation consists in nothing but trying to look for the lost heart.