“Where it is permissible both to die and not to die, it is an abuse of valour to die.”

The way is near, but men seek it afar. It is in easy things, but men seek for it in difficult things.

The great man is he who does not lose his child’s heart.

The way of learning is none other than finding the lost mind.

The way of truth is like a great road. It is not difficult to know it. The evil is only that men will not seek it.

The disease of men is that they neglect their own fields and go to weed the fields of others.

To lay hold of the mean without taking into account the occasion is like grasping one thing only.

A man must not be without shame, for the shame of being without shame is shamelessness indeed.

Friendship with a man is friendship with his virtue, and does not admit of assumptions of superiority.

The Tao is near and people seek it far away.

Mankind fears an evil man but heaven does not.

The feeling of compassion is the beginning of humanity.

Secure property in hand leads to peace in mind.

The sole concern of learning is to seek one’s original heart.

Never has a man who has bent himself been able to make others straight.

The way of truth is like a great highway. It is not hard to find.

Never has there been one possessed of complete sincerity who did not move others. Never has there been one who had not sincerity who was able to move others.