“I dislike death, however, there are some things I dislike more than death. Therefore, there are times when I will not avoid danger.”

The tendency of mans nature to good is like the tendency of water to flow downward.

The feeling of right or wrong is the beginning of wisdom.

Virtue alone is not sufficient for the exercise of government; laws alone cannot carry themselves into practice.

Listen to a man’s words and look at the pupil of his eye. How can a man conceal his character?

In abundance prepare for scarcity.

Benevolence is one of the distinguishing characters of man.

Is it only the mouth and belly which are injured by hunger and thirst? Men’s minds are also injured by them.

Never lose your child’s heart.

The ways are two: love and want of love. That is all.

All things are already complete in us. There is no greater delight than to be conscious of right within us. If one strives to treat others as he would be treated by them, he shall not fail to come near the perfect life.

Those who follow the part of themselves which is great are great men; those who follow the part which is little are little men.

Friends are the siblings God never gave us.

Only those who develop their minds and spirits to the utmost can serve Heaven and fulfill their own destinies.

To act without clear understanding, to form habits without investigation, to follow a path all one’s life without knowing where it really leads; such is the behavior of the multitude.

Heaven sees as the people see. Heaven hears as the people hear.

He who goes to the bottom of his own heart knows his own nature; And knowing his own nature, he knows heaven.

Every fresh experience points out some form of error which we shall afterwards carefully avoid.

Avoid him who talks sweetly before you but tries to ruin you behind your back, for he is like a pitcher of poison with milk on top.

The best way to avoid a hangover is to stay drunk.

I’ve told you the four thunderstorms – disappointment, frustration, unfairness and isolation. You cannot avoid them, as like the monsoon they will come into your life at regular intervals. You just need to keep the raincoat handy to not let the spark die.

A person who has been punished is not thereby simply less inclined to behave in a given way; at best, he learns how to avoid punishment.

When we are in doubt whether an action is good or bad, abstain from it.

If there is anything good about nobility it is that it enforces the necessity of avoiding degeneracy.

Avoiding the temptation to sin and being patient upon that, is greater than being patient whilst being afflicted with trials.