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

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.

Human nature is disposed to do good.

The root of the kingdom is in the state. The root of the state is in the family. The root of the family is in the person of its head.

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

The Way lies at hand yet it is sought afar off; the thing lies in the easy yet it is sought in the difficult.

The great man is he who does not lose his child's heart.