Mencius
It is not difficult to govern. All one has to do is not to offend the noble families.Collection: Noble
When the men of antiquity realized their wishes, benefits were conferred by them on the people. If they did not realize their wishes, they cultivated their personal character, and became illustrious in the world. If poor, they attended to their own virtue in solitude; if advanced to dignity, they made the whole empire virtuous as well.Collection: Solitude
Let not a man do what his sense of right bids him not to do, nor desire what it forbids him to desire. This is sufficient. The skillful artist will not alter his measures for the sake of a stupid workman.Collection: Stupid
A small country cannot contend with a great; the few cannot contend with the many; the weak cannot contend with the strongCollection: Country