Quotes from Ancient Philosophy

Isn’t it a joy to have friends come from afar?

Think of justice when you see benefit, and give orders when you see danger.

You can support an orphan six feet away, you can send a life a hundred miles away, and you can't take it away during the big festival.

A man with lofty ideals and benevolence will not harm his benevolence by seeking life, but will kill himself to fulfill his benevolence.

A gentleman is arrogant but not arrogant, and a villain is arrogant but not arrogant.

A gentleman’s official position is to act righteously.

Gentlemen are harmonious but not harmonious; villains are harmonious but not harmonious.

A gentleman is reserved and does not fight, and he is a group but not a party.

A gentleman is not careful in comparing himself with others, while a villain is not careful in comparing himself with others.

A gentleman is magnanimous, but a villain is always worried.

The benevolent do not worry, the wise do not be confused, the brave do not fear.

The gentleman seeks the road but not the food. The gentleman cares about the road but not the poverty.

Do to others what you don’t want others to do. If you are generous to yourself but do not blame others, you will be far away from resentment.

When you see a virtuous person, you think about them; when you see a virtuous person, you introspect yourself.

When three people walk, they must have a teacher. Choose the good ones and follow them, and choose the bad ones and change them.

A gentleman is respectful and courteous to others. He is a brother in the world.

To make a mistake without correcting it is to say that it is a mistake!

If it is passed, it will be changed in a hurry.

Those who are selfish can destroy the public. -- Lin Bu

If everyone loves public affairs, the world will be peaceful; if everyone is selfish, the world will be in chaos. -- Liu E

Selfishness is an obstacle to building people up. -- Lu Kun

Forgetting the past like smoke, my heart is selfless and the world is wide. -- Tao Zhu

Always seek to benefit others, not yourself. -- Xie Juezai

All self-interested lives are irrational and animal lives. -- Leo Tolstoy

Human reason destroys superstition, and human emotion will also destroy egoism. -- Heine

Selflessness is a rare morality because there is nothing to gain from it. -- Brecht

A gentleman is known for his righteousness, and a villain is known for his benefit. -- Confucius

Don't worry about poverty and lowliness, and don't dwell on wealth. -- Tao Yuanming

Wealth and honor are not obscene, poverty is pleasure, and a man is a hero here. -- Cheng Hao

Poverty, a clean and simple life, is where we travelers can overcome many difficulties! -- Fang Zhimin

Three armies can seize the commander, but an ordinary man cannot seize the will. -- Confucius

Those who are not strong in ambition are not wise enough. -- Mo Zhai

The sparrow knows the ambition of the swan! -- Chen She

Aim high. -- Zhuge Liang

The old man is always ambitious, but the martyr is still ambitious in his old age. -- Cao Cao

The sparrows play with Fan Chai, and the swans roam safely.

-- Cao Zhi