Tsze-Kung asked Confucius, saying, "Master, are you a sage?" Confucius answered him: "A sage is what I cannot rise to. I learn without satiety, and teach without being tired." Tsze-Kung said: "You learn without satiety: that shows your wisdom. You teach without being tired: that shows your benevolence. Benevolent and wise:- Master, you are a sage."

It would be better to be without the Shu-King than to believe every word of it.

Benevolence is the tranquil habitation of man, and righteousness is his straight path.

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.

The principles of great men illuminate the universe.

A real man is he whose goodness is a part of himself.

At forty, I had attained the unperturbed mind.

The virtues are not poured into us, they are natural. Seek, and you will find them: neglect, and you will lose them.

Before a man can do things there must be things he will not do.

Most precious are the people; next come the spirits of land and grain; and last, the kings.