In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.
Wherever you go, go with all your heart.
What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.
Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do we know that his future will not be equal to our present?
Knowledge without practice is useless. Practice without knowledge is dangerous.
Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.
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.
The superior man is slow in his words and earnest in his conduct.
By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.
What you do not wish upon yourself, extend not to others.
He who chases two rabbits, catches none.
The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.
The scholar does not consider gold and jade to be precious treasures, but loyalty and good faith.
If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.
Study the past if you want to define the future.
Silence is a true friend who never betrays.
True goodness springs from a man’s own heart. All men are born good.
A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
It is better to light one small candle of gratitude than to curse the darkness.
He who requires much from himself and little from others, will keep himself from being the object of resentment.