Confucius

An image is better than one thousand words

Excess and deficiency are equally at fault.

Tea tempers the spirits and harmonizes the mind, dispels lassitude and relieves fatigue, awakens thought and prevents drowsiness, lightens or refreshes the body, and clears the perceptive faculties.

The general of a large army may be defeated, but you cannot defeat the determined mind of a peasant.

What you do not wish upon yourself, extend not to others.

He who needs only coarse food, water and drink, and as pillow his folded arms will find happiness without further search.

For benefits return benefits; for injuries return justice without any admixture of revenge.

Ceremonies are the first thing to be attended to in the practice of government.

How should I know anything about another world when I know so little of this?

There is good government when those who are near are made happy, and when those who are afar are attracted.

To be truly happy and contented, you must let go of what it means to be happy or content.

How transcendent is the virtue of the middle conduct! Rare for a long time has been its practice among the people.

A country of a thousand war-chariots cannot be administered unless the ruler attends strictly to business, punctually observes his promises, is economical in expenditure, loves the people, and uses the labor of the peasantry only at the proper times of year.

If a man be under the influence of anger his conduct will not be correct.

The book salesman should be honored because he brings to our attention, as a rule, the very books we need most and neglect most.

The object of the superior man is truth.

Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs.

A gentleman would be ashamed should his deeds not match his words.

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 faults of a superior person are like the sun and moon. They have their faults, and everyone sees them; they change and everyone looks up to them.

Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.