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.
Knowledge without practice is useless. Practice without knowledge is dangerous.
As the water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it, so a wise man adapts himself to circumstances.
Happiness is not at the top of the mountain, but in how to climb.
The archer who misses his mark does not blame the target. He stops, corrects himself and shoots again.
An orchid in a deep forest sends out its fragrance even if no one is around to appreciate it.
When words lose their meaning, people lose their liberty.
Expect much from yourself and little from others and you will avoid incurring resentments.
Every house guest brings you happiness. Some when they arrive, and some when they are leaving.
Women and people of low birth are very hard to deal with. If you are friendly to them, they get out of hand, and if you keep your distance, they resent it.
He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.
The gentleman calls attention to the good points in others; he does not call attention to their defects. The small man does just the reverse of this.
A man who lacks reliability is utterly useless.
To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order; we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.
If there were an honorable way to get rich, I'd do it, even if it meant being a stooge standing around with a whip. But there isn't an honorable way, so I just do what I like.
A blemish may be removed from a diamond by careful polishing, but evil words once spoken cannot be effaced.
The noble-minded are calm and steady. Little people are forever fussing and fretting.
In old days, men studied for the sake of self-improvement; nowadays men study in order to impress other people.
Balance is the perfect state of still water. Let that be our model. It remains quiet within and is not disturbed on the surface.
Study without reflection is a waste of time; reflection without study is dangerous.
