“The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his actions.”

“The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”

“He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.”

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

“People with virtue must speak out; People who speak are not all virtuous.”

“The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does not forget that disorder may come. Thus his person is not endangered, and his States and all their clans are preserved.”

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