Confucius

Friendship with the upright, with the truthful and with the well informed is beneficial. Friendship with those who flatter, with those who are meek and who compromise with principles, and with those who talk cleverly is harmful.

Confucius

Guide them by edicts, keep them in line with punishments, and the common people will stay out of trouble but will have no sense of shame. Guide them by virtue, keep them in line with the rites, and they will, besides having a sense of shame, reform themselves.

Confucius

He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.

Confucius

He who rules by moral force is like the pole-star, which remains in its place while all the lesser stars do homage to it.

Confucius

He with whom neither slander that gradually soaks into the mind, nor statements that startle like a wound in the flesh, are successful may be called intelligent indeed.

Confucius

Heaven begat virtue in me; what can man do unto me?

Confucius

Heaven gives long life to the just and the intelligent.

Confucius

Heaven is author of the virtue that is in me

Confucius

Heaven means to be one with God.

Confucius

Heaven sends down its good and evil symbols and wise men act accordingly.

Confucius