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

Those who follow the part of themselves which is great are great men; those who follow the part which is little are little men.

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.

By exhaustively examining one's own mind,one may understand his nature.One who understands his own nature understands Heaven.

All people have the common desire to be elevated in honour, but all people have something still more elevated in themselves without knowing it.

Never has there been one possessed of complete sincerity who did not move others. Never has there been one who had not sincerity who was able to move others.

It is true that water will flow indifferently to east and west, but will it flow equally well up and down? Human nature is disposed toward goodness, just as water tends to flow downwards. There is no water but flows downwards, and no man but shows his tendency to be good. Now, by striking water hard, you may splash it higher than your forehead, and by damming it, you may make it go uphill. But, is that the nature of water? It is external force that causes it to do so. Likewise, if a man is made to do what is not good, his nature is being similarly forced.