"The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell."

"It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs."

"When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them."

"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance."

"Give a bowl of rice to a man and you will feed him for a day. Teach him how to grow his own rice and you will save his life."

"Study the past if you would define the future."

"Writing cannot express all words, words cannot encompass all ideas."

"He who will not economize will have to agonize."

"If a craftsman wants to do good work, he must first sharpen his tools."

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart."

"The Master said, "I have not seen a person who loved virtue, or onewho hated what was not virtuous. He who loved virtue, would esteemnothing above it. He who hated what is not virtuous, would practicevirtue in such a way that he would not allow anything that is notvirtuous to approach his person."Is any one able for one day to apply his strength to virtue? I havenot seen the case in which his strength would be insufficient."Should there possibly be any such case, I have not seen it."

"When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself."

"He who searches for evil, must first look at his own reflection."

"Don't grieve when people fail to recognize your ability. Grieve for your lack of ability instead."

"To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men; and the employment of the people at the proper seasons."

"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones."

"Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?"

"I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge; I am one who is fond of antiquity, and earnest in seeking it there."

"Language is insight itself."

"The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort."

"In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of."

"The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home."

"The Master is cordial yet stern, awe-inspiring yet not fierce and respectful yet at ease."

"Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous."

"The object of the superior man is truth."

"Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs."

"Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honors depend upon heaven."

"Die Wahrheit hat keinen Erfolg."

"Tsze-kung wished to dispense with the sacrifice of a sheep for the New Moon ceremony. The Master said, "You love the sheep; I love the ceremony."

"If you expect great things of yourself and demand little of others, you'll keep resentment far away."

"Words are the voice of the heart."

"Am I a man of great wisdom? Hardly! Even when a simple person brings me a question, my mind goes utterly blank, I just thrash it out until I've exhausted every possibility."

"Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change."

"Worthy admonitions cannot fail to inspire us, but what matters is changing ourselves. Reverent advice cannot fail to encourage us, but what matters is acting on it. Encouraged without acting, inspired without changing " there's nothing to be done for such people."

"It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them."

"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it."

"When the Master entered the great temple he asked about everything. Someone said, 'Who will say that this son of the man of Zou knows about ritual? When he enters the temple, he asks about everything'. The Master heard of it and said, 'This is the ritual'."

"To be able under all circumstances to practice five things constitutes perfect virtue; these five things are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness and kindness."

"He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions."

"He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it."

"To one who is not eager I do not reveal anything, nor do I explain anything to one who is not communicative. If I raise one corner for someone and he cannot come back with the other three, I do not go on."

"If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character.If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home.If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nations.When there is order in the nations, there will peace in the world."

"To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness."

"How to play music may be known. At the commencement of the piece, all the parts should sound together. As it proceeds, they should be in harmony while severally distinct and flowing without break, and thus on to the conclusion."

"When the wind blows,the grass bends."

"Even when walking in the company of two other men, I am bound to be able to learn from them. The good points of the one I copy, the bad points of the other I correct in myself."

"Naming enables the noble-minded to speak, and speech enables the noble-minded to act. Therefore, the noble-minded are anything but careless in speech."

"When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points."

"The way out is through the door. Why is it that no one will use this method?"

"Think of tomorrow, the past can't be mended."