Men of all social stations live together: they are equal in their desires, yet vary in their methods; they are equal in their passions, yet different in their intelligence; that is their nature-given vitality.

You look upon the seasons with expectation and await them: wy not seize the seasonal opportunities and exploit them?

Man's nature is evil; goodness is the result of conscious activity.

Whether the gentleman is capable or not, he is loved all the same; conversely the petty man is loathed all the same.

Misery is evil; quarreling, a misfortune. There is only one possibility of avoiding both: a clear division of society. [Otherwise] the strong tyrannize the weak, the intelligent frighten the stupid, the inferior resist the superior, and the young mock the old.

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.

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.