Mencius

"The foundation of true power is benevolence."

"When all are content, the state prospers."

"Filial piety and respect for elders are the root of moral character."

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with understanding yourself."

"The mind is the master of the body; treat it well."

"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent not giving up."

"The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what is profitable."

"To fail to cultivate the person while attempting to regulate the state is like trying to govern others while your own affairs are in disorder."

"When the wind of change blows, some build walls while others build windmills."

"The measure of greatness is how we treat those who can do nothing for us."

"What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others."

"The archer who misses the target by an inch misses by a mile."

"Love is like a river; sometimes it rushes forth and sometimes it flows gently."

"Those who surrender their freedom for security deserve neither."

"The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet."

"A man without perseverance is like a ship without a rudder."

"The heaven-given virtues in man can be preserved only through cultivation."

"When you realize you have made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it."

"To know oneself is the beginning of wisdom; to accept oneself is the path to peace."

"The noble man is slow in speech but quick in action."

"Benevolence conquers all; it is the universal remedy."

"Those who cannot forgive others break the bridge over which they themselves must pass."

"When the body is satisfied with little, the mind is free to pursue great things."

"The superior man is concerned with the triumph of right; the inferior man is concerned with the triumph of might."

"To be wealthy and honored is the wish of mankind, but if it cannot be retained in accordance with the moral law, it must not be kept."

"The heart of man is like a vast ocean; cultivate it and it becomes a haven of peace."

"Every man has in himself the seed of everything; water it with attention and care."

"When the superior man acts, he acts from within; when the inferior man acts, he acts from without."

"Life's true test is not in the destination but in how you travel the path."

"The way to do is to be; be virtuous and virtue will follow you."