Friendship with the upright, with the truthful and with the well informed is beneficial. Friendship with those who flatter, with those who are meek and who compromise with principles, and with those who talk cleverly is harmful.
Care not for want of place; care for thy readiness to fill one. Care not for being unknown, but seek to be worthy of note.
A knight whose heart is set upon the Way, but who is ashamed of wearing shabby clothes and eating coarse food, is not worth calling into counsel.
If the Superior Man is not serious, then he will not inspire awe in others. If he is not learned, then he will not be on firm ground. He takes loyalty and good faith to be of primary importance, and has no friends who are not of equal (moral) caliber.
To show forbearance and gentleness in teaching others; and not to revenge unreasonable conduct - this is the energy of southern regions, and the good man makes it his study. To lie under arms; and meet death without regret - this is the energy of northern regions, and the forceful make it their study. Therefore, the superior man cultivates a friendly harmony, without being weak - How firm is he in his energy!
To be fond of learning is to be near to knowledge. To practice with vigor is to be near to magnanimity. To possess the feeling of shame is to be near to energy.
Exemplary persons are steadfast in the face of adversity, while petty persons are engulfed by it.
The Master was entirely free from four things: prejudice, foregone conclusions, obstinacy, and egoism.
If a man is respectful he will not be treated with insolence. If he is tolerant he will win the multitude. If he is trustworthy in word his fellow men will entrust him with responsibility. If he is quick he will achieve results.
The wise man admires water, the kind man admires mountains. The wise man moves, the kind man rests. The wise man is happy, the kind man is firm.
Man is born for uprightness. If a man lose his uprightness and yet live, his escape from death is mere good fortune.
The man who in view of gain thinks of righteousness; who in the view of danger is prepared to give up his life; and who does not forget an old agreement however far back it extends - such a man may be reckoned a complete man.
The nobler sort of man emphasizes the good qualities in others, and does not accentuate the bad. The inferior does.
Look at the means which a man employs, consider his motives, observe his pleasures. A man simply cannot conceal himself!
An orchid in a deep forest sends out its fragrance even if no one is around to appreciate it.
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.
The noble-minded are calm and steady. Little people are forever fussing and fretting.
There is nothing more visible than what is secret, and nothing more manifest than what is minute.
