1. When quality is better than literature, the country will be wild; when literature is better than quality, history will be achieved. Be gentle and polite, then be a gentleman. Excerpted from "The Analects of Confucius·Yong Ye Chapter"

Explanation: If simplicity exceeds decoration, it will appear crude; if decoration exceeds simplicity, it will appear vain. Only when simplicity and decoration are properly combined can one become a gentleman.

2. When you see a virtuous person, think about them, and when you see a virtuous person, you should reflect on yourself. Excerpted from "The Analects of Confucius: Li Ren Chapter"

Explanation: When you see someone whose moral ability exceeds your own, you should think about how hard you should be like him; when you see someone who is not as good as yourself, you should reflect on who you are. They don't have the same shortcomings.

3. When a bird is about to die, its song is mournful; when a man is about to die, his words are also kind. Excerpted from "The Analects of Confucius·Tabo"

Explanation: When a bird is about to die, its chirping sound is sad; when a person is about to die, the words he speaks are also kind.

4. If you hear the Tao in the morning, you will die in the evening. Excerpted from "The Analects of Confucius: Li Ren Chapter"

Explanation: Once you understand the principles of benevolence and righteousness, you should spend your whole life practicing it, sometimes even at the expense of your own life in order to defend it.

5. People with different paths should not conspire with each other. Excerpted from "The Analects of Confucius·Wei Ling Gong Pian"

Explanation: People who take different paths cannot plan together.