The tendency of mans nature to good is like the tendency of water to flow downward.

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.

So I like life and I like righteousness; if I cannot keep the two together, I will let life go and choose righteousness.

The regular path of virtue is to be pursued without any bend, and from no view to emolument.

The tendency of mans nature to good is like the tendency of water to flow downward.

Benevolence is one of the distinguishing characters of man.

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