Famous sayings by Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty

1. Fight chaos with force, defend it with literature, and the principles of civility and martial arts all follow their own time. Your Majesty said that writing is not as good as martial arts. This is an exaggeration.

2. The king regards the world as his home, why should things be in the tomb? It is his own. Now, because Jiuwei Mountain is a mausoleum, it does not hide gold, jade, people, horses, or utensils. It only uses earthen and wood-shaped tools. The common people like to steal and have no worries.

3. The Chinese people are the foundation of the world, and the people of the four barbarians are all on the same branches and leaves. They disturb the roots and thicken the branches and leaves in order to seek long-term peace, which is not possible!

4. Food is the foundation of man and nature, and agriculture is the basis of government.

5. In the past, I was commissioned to fight for a special expedition, and this song became popular among the people. Although it is not the grace of literature and virtue, my achievements have been made here, and I dare not forget my roots.

6. The principle of selecting talents is based on selflessness.

7. Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it.

8. The foundation of peace lies in winning people.

9. Today, China is strong and powerful. A thousand soldiers can defeat tens of thousands of barbarians. Although the barbarians are numerous, what should we fear?

10. The world’s heroes have come to my rescue!

11. Li Ling defeated the Xiongnu with 5,000 infantry soldiers, and his achievement was worthy of obtaining books, bamboos and silk. Jing rode three thousand men and marched in the bloody palace, so he took Dingxiang. No one in ancient times could bathe me in the shame of the Wei River!

12. The skin of a thousand sheep is not as good as the armpit of a fox.

13. The people are the foundation of a country, and the foundation is the foundation of the country.

14. Using copper as a mirror, you can straighten your clothes; using ancient times as a mirror, you can know the ups and downs; using people as a mirror, you can understand gains and losses.

15. If you caress the sword generously, you will not be famous for helping the world.

16. Far from being greedy and sycophantic, but close to being loyal and good.

17. Your husband looks forward to you with his mind and spirit, and don’t worry about it with minor suspicions.

18. Officials are more important in getting people than having more people.

19. Open the way to speak out and open the door to speaking out.

20. If you regard the strange as the right, if you are hostile to the strange, then I will attack it with the right; if you regard the right as the strange, if you are hostile to the right, then I will attack with the strange. Let the enemy's power always be weak, and our power always be strong. This method should be taught to the generals so that they can learn easily.