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Three things cannot long be hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.
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The gentleman is calm and at ease. The gentleman is dignified but not proud; the small man is proud but not dignified.
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A man is great not because he hasn't failed; a man is great because failure hasn't stopped him.
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Listen widely to remove your doubts and be careful when speaking about the rest and your mistakes will be few.
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To prefer it is better than to only know it. To delight in it is better than merely to prefer it.
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A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.
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If names are not correct, then language is not in accord with the truth of things. If language is not in accord with the truth of things, then affairs cannot be carried out successfully.
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To be fond of learning is to draw close to wisdom. To practice with vigor is to draw close to benevolence. To know the sense of shame is to draw close to courage. He who knows these three things knows how to cultivate his own character. Knowing how to cultivate his own character, he knows how to govern other men. Knowing how to govern other men, he knows how to govern the world, its states, and its families.
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Those who make virtue their profession are the ruin of virtue.
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When admins have faults, they do not fear to ignore them.
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The master said, 'Quietly to store up knowledge in my mind, to learn without flagging, to teach without growing weary, these present me with no difficulties.'
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The silent treasuring up of knowledge; learning without satiety; and instructing others without being wearied: which one of these things belongs to me?
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Words are the voice of the heart.
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If language is not rectified, words do not correspond to meaning, and if words do not correspond to meaning, our deeds cannot be accomplished.
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Keep it simple and focus on what matters. Don't let yourself be overwhelmed.
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You turn the handle the way it goes, not the way it ought to go.
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Heaven begat Virtue in me; what can man do unto me?
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The superior person is in harmony, but does not follow the crowd. The lesser person follows the crowd, but is not in harmony.
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If you want to change the world, first change your heart.
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The superior man accords with the course of the Mean. Though he may be all unknown, unregarded by the world, he feels no regret - It is only the sage who is able for this.
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The way of the superior man may be compared to what takes place in traveling, when to go to a distance we must first traverse the space that is near, and in ascending a height, when we must begin from the lower ground.
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There has never been a man mean and at the same time virtuous.
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The path may not be left for an instant. If it could be left, it would not be the path.
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In dealing with the dead, if we treat them as if they were entirely dead, that would show a want of affection and should not be done; or, if we treat them as if they were entirely alive, that would show a want of wisdom and should not be done.