When you see contention amongst your enemies, go and sit at ease with your friends; but when you see them of one mind, string your bow, and place stones upon the ramparts.

Use a sweet tongue, courtesy, and gentleness, and thou mayest manage to guide an elephant by a hair.

People are crying up the rich and variegated plumage of the peacock, and he is himself blushing at the sight of his ugly feet.

Be not in the desire of thine own ease.

Kings stand more in need of the company of the intelligent than the intelligent do of the society of kings.

No reliance can be placed on the friendship of kings, nor vain hope put in the melodious voice of boys; for that passes away like a vision, and this vanishes like a dream.

A grateful dog is better than an ungrateful man.