The famous sayings of Dong Zhongshu, a thinker in the Han Dynasty

1. If the teacher and commander are not wise, then the leader’s virtue will not be proclaimed and the kindness will not flow.

2. Names are born from truth, and they cannot be called names unless they are true.

3. Everything is in accordance with the name, and each name is in accordance with the heaven. The relationship between heaven and man becomes one.

4. The benevolent man loves mankind, and the wise man eliminates its harm.

5. If you are rich, you will be arrogant, and if you are poor, you will be worried.

6. Those with pure Qi are called essences, those with pure people are called virtuous people, those who govern the body use accumulating essence as a treasure, and those who govern a country use accumulating virtuous people as the way.

7. No good deed is too small to be done, and no evil is too small to be avoided.

8. He who can make all the people go there and win the crowd in the world is invincible in the world.

9. If the father is not a father, the son will not be a son; if the king is not a king, the minister will not be a minister.

10. Subdue the people and reach out to the king; bend the king and reach out to heaven.

11. Reduce taxes and reduce corvee, so as to broaden the people's strength.

12. The king is the guide for the ministers, the father is the guide for the son, and the husband is the guide for the wife.

13. Be kind to yourself but not responsible to others.

14. Nature is the simplicity of nature; goodness is the transformation of the king’s teachings.

15. The source of all chaos is always under suspicion.

16. If you have success and are happy, you must take precautions.

17. The saint brings benefit to the world.

18. Those who hide their illness will not get a good doctor.

19. Honest and powerful.

20. If you want to judge the merits, it is better to lead the rope; if you want to judge the right and wrong, it is better to quote the name.

21. The body has temperament, just like the sky has yin and yang.

22. It is up to oneself to control chaos and prosper.

23. A good teacher should not only be beautiful in his way, but also be cautious in his conduct.

24. Simplicity is called sex, and sex cannot be achieved without education.

25. If education is established but all treachery is stopped, the embankment is complete; if education is abolished and both good and evil come out, and punishment cannot prevail, the embankment is broken. The ancient kings understood this, so when they ruled the world from the south, they all took education as their top priority.

26. If Sanyu is not polished, it will not become an article; if a gentleman does not learn, it will not become his virtue.

27. Things must be done reluctantly. If you study hard, you will have broad knowledge and intelligence. If you cultivate yourself reluctantly, your virtue will rise and you will achieve great success.

28. If the harp and harp are out of tune, they must be solved and changed.

29. Heaven and man are one, and the power of kings is divinely delegated. (m.taiks.com)

30. Follow God’s will to carry out your work, and teach morally but not punish.

31. The great source of Tao comes from heaven. If heaven does not change, so will Tao.

32. If the harp and harp of the imitated example are not in tune, it must be understood and changed so that it can be used as a drum.

33. When words come from oneself, one cannot block them; when one’s actions come from oneself, one cannot hide them.

34. A small amount will make a large number, and a small amount will lead to rejection. Therefore, a saint will use concealment to make things clear, and use subtle things to make things appear.

35. Fate is the order of heaven, sex is the quality of life, and love is the desire of man.