“If there were one word that could act as a standard of conduct for one's entire life, perhaps it would be 'thoughtfulness.”

“Tsze-Kung asked, “Is there one word with which to act in accordance throughout a lifetime?” The Master said, “Is not reciprocity such a word? What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.”

“The Master said, “If your conduct is determined solely by considerations of profit you will arouse great resentment.”

“Conduct thyself always with the same prudence as though thou went observed by ten eyes and pointed at by ten fingers”

“The Master said, The case is like that of someone raising a mound. If he stops working, the fact that it perhaps needed only one more basketful makes no difference; I stay where I am. Whereas even if he has not got beyond leveling the ground, but is still at work, the fact that he has only tilted one basketful of earth makes no difference. I go to help him.”

“Things being investigated, knowledge became complete. Their knowledge being complete, their thoughts were sincere. Their thoughts being sincere, their hearts were then rectified. Their hearts being rectified, their persons were cultivated. Their persons being cultivated, their families were regulated. Their families being regulated, their States were rightly governed. Their States being rightly governed, the whole kingdom was made tranquil and happy.”

“A superior man in dealing with the world is not for anything or against anything. He follows righteousness as the standard.”