"Humanity is more important for people than water or fire. I have seen people walk through water and fire and die. I have never seen someone tread the path of humanity and perish."

"The Master said, 'If a man is able to govern his country with the rules of propriety, what difficulty will he have? If he cannot govern his country with the rules of propriety, what has he to do with …"

"To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue... gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness."

"Is humanity far away? Whenever I want the virtue of humanity, it comes at once."

"The scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar."