If the King loves music, it is well with the land.

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

The way is near, but men seek it afar. It is in easy things, but men seek for it in difficult things.

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

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.

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.

Benevolence is one of the distinguishing characters of man.