By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. ››When you see a good person, think of becoming like her / him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points. ››It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs. ››The man of wisdom is never of two minds;Give a bowl of rice to a man and you will feed him for a day. Teach him how to grow his own rice and you will save his life. ››When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps. ››To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order; we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right. ››To know that we know what we know, and that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge. ››In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of. ››Shall I teach you what knowledge?It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get. ››The Master said, 'A true gentleman is one who has set his heart upon the Way. A fellow who is ashamed merely of shabby clothing or modest meals is not even worth conversing with.' ››Tzu Chang asked Confucius about jen. Confucius said, 'If you can practice these five things with all the people, you can be called jen.'The nobler sort of man emphasizes the good qualities in others, and does not accentuate the bad. The inferior does. ››The Master said, 'A true teacher is one who, keeping the past alive, is also able to understand the present.' ››The Master said, 'If your conduct is determined solely by considerations of profit you will arouse great resentment.' ››No lake so still but it has its wave.Knowledge is merely brilliance in organization of ideas and not wisdom. The truly wise person goes beyond knowledge. ››If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear? ››If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character.Fix your mind on truth, hold firm to virtue, rely on loving kindness, and find your recreation in the Arts. ››If there were one word that could act as a standard of conduct for one's entire life, perhaps it would be 'thoughtfulness.' ››Some are born with knowledge, some derive it from study, and some acquire it only after a painful realization of their ignorance.A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do we know that his future will not be equal to our present? ››The way of the superior person is threefold; virtuous, they are free from anxieties; wise they are free from perplexities; and bold they are free from fear. ››To be able under all circumstances to practice five things constitutes perfect virtue; these five things are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness and kindness. ››The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does not forget that disorder may come. Thus his person is not endangered, and his States and all their clans are preserved. ››Lead the people with administrative injunctions and put them in their place with penal law, and they will avoid punishments but will be without a sense of shame. Lead them with excellence and put them in their place through roles and ritual practices, and in addition to developing a sense of shame, they will order themselves harmoniously. ››The scholar does not consider gold and jade to be precious treasures, but loyalty and good faith. ››Learn as though you would never be able to master it; hold it as though you would be in fear of losing it. ››A man of humanity is one who, in seeking to establish himself, finds a foothold for others and who, in desiring attaining himself, helps others to attain. ››When a person should be spoken with, and you don't speak with them, you lose them. When a person shouldn't be spoken with and you speak to them, you waste your breath. The wise do not lose people, nor do they waste their breath. ››It is when those who are not strong enough have made some moderate amount of progress that they fail and give up… ››The expectations of life depend upon diligence the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools. ››For this reason the gentleman will employ a man on a distant mission and observe his degree of loyalty, will employ him close at hand and observe his degree of respect. He will hand him troublesome affairs and observe how well he manages them, will suddenly ask his advice and observe how wisely he answers. He will exact some difficult promise from him and see how well he keeps it, turn over funds to him and see with what benevolence he dispenses them, inform him of the danger he is in and note how faithful he is to his duties. He will get him drunk with wine and observe how well he handles himself, place him in mixed company and see what effect beauty has upon him. By applying these nine tests, you may determine who is the unworthy man. ››Things have their roots and branches. Affairs have their beginnings and their ends. To know what is first and what is last will lead one near the Way. ››As the water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it, so a wise man adapts himself to circumstances. ››The Master said, 'To study, and then in a timely fashion to practice what you have learned — is this not satisfying? To have companions arrive from afar — is this not a joy? To remain unrecognized by others and yet remain free of resentment — is this not the mark of the gentleman?' ››If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself. ››A man should demand much from himself, but little from others. When you meet a man of worth, think how you may attain to his excellence. When you meet an unworthy one, then look within and examine yourself. ››Learn advidly. Question it repeatedly. Analyze it carefully. Then put what you have learned into practice intelligently. ››
