Since the nature of people is bad, to become corrected they must be taught by teachers and to be orderly they must acquire ritual and moral principles.

I once tried standing up on my toes to see far out in the distance, but I found that I could see much farther by climbing to a high place.

When people lack teachers, their tendencies are not corrected; when they do not have ritual and moral principles, then their lawlessness is not controlled.

If what the heart approves conforms to proper patterns, then even if one's desires are many, what harm would they be to good order?

If the impulse to daring and bravery is too fierce and violent, stay it with guidance and instruction.

Thus, that one can find no place to walk through the breadth of the earth is not because the earth is not tranquil but because the danger to every step of the traveler lies generally with words.

If you wish to see the thousand years, look at today; if you wish to understand the millionfold, then look at the one or the two.