Governing with equity resembles the north star, which is fixed, and all the stars surround it.
Have no friends unlike yourself.
Learning without reflection will profit nothing; reflection without learning will leave the mind uneasy and miserable.
Knowledge produces pleasure clear as water; complete virtue brings happiness solid as a mountain; knowledge pervades all things; virtue is tranquil and happy; knowledge is delight; virtue is long life.
Without virtue, both riches and honor seem to me like the passing cloud.
The sage’s conduct is affection and benevolence in operation.
The man who possesses complete virtue wishes to fix his own mind therein, and also to fix the minds of others; he wishes to be wise himself, and would fain render others equally wise.
Those who, searching for virtue, refuse to stay among the virtuous, how can they obtain knowledge?
The rich and honorable are those with whom men desire to associate; not obtaining their company in the paths of virtue, however, do not remain in it.
In your appearance, to fall below decency would be to resemble a savage rustic, to exceed it would be to resemble a fop; let your appearance be decent and moderate, then you will resemble the honorable man.