“Neither blows from pitchfork, nor from the lash, can make him change his ways.”

One often has need of one inferior to himself.

Men of all ages have the same inclinations, over which reason exercises no control. Thus, wherever men are found, there are follies, ay, and the same follies.

Man is ice to truth and fire to falsehood.

Religious contention is the devil’s harvest.

We become innocent when we are unfortunate.

The argument of the strongest is always the best.

A cheerful mind is a vigorous mind.

Everyone believes very easily whatever they fear or desire.

Blind fortune pursues inconsiderate rashness.

Often we find our own destiny on the same roads that we have been avoiding.

The worst time is always the present.

We are never content with our lot.

Everyone calls himself a friend, but only a fool relies on it; nothing is commoner than the name, nothing rarer than the thing.

Example is a dangerous lure: where the wasp got through the gnat sticks fast.

You’ve tried to reform what will not learn. Shut doors on traits that you wish were dead; They will open a window and return.

Gentleness succeeds better than violence.

I really enjoyed Casino Royale because suddenly something changed with this modernity and with Daniel bringing life to James Bond in a very new way.

From the Taoist point of view, the natural result of this harmonious way of living is happiness.

You seek help from the elders. A society with elders is healthy. It’s not always that way in the West.

One sometimes gets the impression that those intimidating words are there to keep us from understanding. That way, the scholars can appear Superior, and will not likely be suspected of Not Knowing Something.

You know, the Chinese don’t like to be photographed because they believe that a part of their life is being taken away by the photographer. And in a way, they’re right.

I am only a picture-taster, the way others are wine-or tea-tasters.

I want to be dancing the way I’m dancing now for 30 more years.

None. They should just go out and photograph and stop talking about it. That’s the only way they are going to find themselves. They can’t do it in their heads – they have to go out and do it in the camera and get it on film.