Quote collection
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"The Master said, A gentleman, in his plans, thinks of the Way; he does not think how he is going to make a living. Even farming sometimes entails 5 times of shortage; and even learning may incidentally lead to high pay. But a gentleman's anxieties concern the progress of the Way; he has no anxiety concerning poverty."
"The main object of conciliation lies in reaching a solution to a case based upon morals and with a warm heart."
"If I were travelling with two partners, one virtuous and one dishonest, both would be useful as teachers. I would perceive what's good of the first one and I would imitate him whereas I would try to correct in me the defects I may see in the second one."
"Let a man be stimulated by poetry, established by the rules of propriety, and perfected by music."
"I have never seen one who really loves goodness or one who really hates wickedness. One who really loves goodness will not place anything above it. One who really hates wickedness will practice goodness in such a way that wickedness will have no chance to get at him. Is there anyone who has devoted his whole strength to doing good for even as long as a single day? I have not seen anyone give up such an attempt because he had not the strength to go on. Perhaps there is such a case, but I have never seen it."
"We should keep the dead before our eyes, and honor them as though still living"
"Those who break down the dikes will themselves be drowned in the inundation."
"If you would govern a state of a thousand chariots (a small-to-middle-size state), you must pay strict attention to business, be true to your word, be economical in expenditure and love the people."
"Every piece of marble has a statue in it waiting to be released by a person of sufficient skill to chip away the unnecessary parts. Just as the sculptor is to the marble, so is education to the soul. It releases it. For only educated people are free people. You cannot create a statue by smashing the marble with a hammer, and you cannot by the force of arms release the spirit or the soul of people."
"To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous."
"Music is the one thing in which there is no use trying to deceive others or make false pretenses."
"Gentlemen should not waste their time on trivial games -- they should play go[3]"
"From the loving example of one family a whole State may become loving, and from its courtesies, courteous; while from the ambition and perverseness of the one man the whole State may be thrown into rebellious disorder. Such is the nature of influence."
"A true gentleman makes demands upon himself but not upon others."
"Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished."
"Be loyal to yourself, charitable to neighbours, nothing more."
"The superior man undergoes three changes. Looked at from a distance, he appears stern; when approached, he is mild; when he is heard to speak, his language is firm and decided."
"Only by perfect virtue can the perfect path, in all its courses, be made a fact."
"The man of humanity delights in mountains"
"Listen much, keep silent when in doubt, and always take heed of the tongue; thou wilt make few mistakes. See much, beware of pitfalls, and always give heed to thy walk; thou wilt have little to rue. If thy words are seldom wrong, thy deeds leave little to rue, pay will follow."