If you love men and they are unfriendly, look into your love; if you rule men and they are unruly, look into your wisdom; if you are courteous to them and they do not respond, look into your courtesy. If what you do is vain, always seek within.

A small country cannot contend with a great; the few cannot contend with the many; the weak cannot contend with the strong

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

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

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.

Mankind fears an evil man but heaven does not.

The feeling of compassion is the beginning of humanity.