The great person never loses a childlike spirit.

Water indeed will flow indifferently to the east or west, but will it flow indifferently up or down? The tendency of our nature to good is like the tendency of water to flow downwards. There are none but have this tendency to good, just as all water flows downward.

A great man is one who has not lost the child's heart.

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

Truth uttered before its time is dangerous.

I dislike death, however, there are some things I dislike more than death. Therefore, there are times when I will not avoid danger.

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.