The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest; success only comes later.

When you know a thing, to hold that you know it, and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it - this is knowledge.

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

Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.

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.

When you know a thing, to hold that you know it, and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it - this is knowledge.

I will not be concerned at other men's not knowing me;I will be concerned at my own want of ability.

Look at the means which a man employs, consider his motives, observe his pleasures. A man simply cannot conceal himself!

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

I want you to be everything that's you, deep at the center of your being.

Ability will never catch up with the demand for it.

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

Virtuous people often revenge themselves for the constraints to which they submit by the boredom which they inspire.

Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.

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

They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.

If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?

To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage, or of principle.

The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.

The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability that he has.