The great man does not think beforehand of his words that they may be sincere, nor of his actions that they may be resolute- he simply speaks and does what is right.

Every duty is a charge, but the charge of oneself is the root of all others.

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.

He who loves others is always loved by them, and he who respects others is always respected by them.

Virtue alone is not sufficient for the exercise of government; laws alone cannot carry themselves into practice.

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

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.