If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.
— Confucius
Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.
To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage, or of principle.
It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.
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.
To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.
We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression.
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.
Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.
Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.
He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.
The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest; success only comes later.
I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand.
Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.
A gentleman would be ashamed should his deeds not match his words.
What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.
There are three methods to gaining wisdom. The first is reflection, which is the highest. The second is limitation, which is the easiest. The third is experience, which is the bitterest.
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
When anger rises, think of the consequences.
Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.
It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.
To see the right and not to do it is cowardice.
If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?
Heaven means to be one with God.
Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.
Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.
The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.
A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
You cannot open a book without learning something.
Wherever you go, go with all your heart.
The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.
The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.
When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.
