To lay hold of the mean without taking into account the occasion is like grasping one thing only.

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

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.

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.

Try your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself, and you will find that this is the shortest way to benevolence

It is not difficult to govern. All one has to do is not to offend the noble families.

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.