For this is your business: to act well the character assigned you; to choose it belongs to another.

Hold fast to those things which seem best to you, as one appointed by God to this post.

He who has gained freedom by the faculty of reason may go where he wills and say: 'No one has power over me; I have been set free by God.'

Nature has given to men one tongue, but two ears, that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak.

'Tell the secret.' I refuse, for this is in my power. 'But I will chain you.' What are you saying? You may chain my leg, but not my will; not even Zeus can conquer that.

As the sun does not wait for prayers and incantations to be induced to rise, but immediately shines and is greeted by all: so neither wait for applauses, and prate, to do good.

To this God you ought to swear an oath, such as the soldiers swear to Caesar. They swear to prefer the safety of Caesar before all things; and will you not swear to prefer your own safety?

Attach yourself to what is spiritually superior, regardless of what other people think or do. Hold to your true aspirations no matter what is going on around you.

From this moment, then, deem yourself worthy of living as a mature person who is making progress.

Do you not know that a good man does nothing for the sake of appearance, but solely for the sake of doing right?

When her work is done, she forgets it. That is why it lasts forever.

In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.

Giving birth and nourishing, having without possessing, acting with no expectation, leading and not trying to control: this is the supreme virtue.

Tolerant, you are impartial. Impartial, you are kingsize. Kingsize, you are noble. Noble, you are homelike.

The best leaders are those the people hardly know exist.

The next best is a leader who is loved and praised. Next, one who is feared. The worst is one who is despised.

If you don't trust the people, you make them untrustworthy.

When the Master governs, the people are hardly aware that he exists. When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: 'We did it ourselves.'

The Master doesn't display himself, therefore people can see his light. He doesn't assert himself, therefore he is recognized.

He doesn't boast, therefore he has merit. He doesn't glorify himself, therefore he endures.

Why should the lord of ten thousand chariots act lightly in public? If you act lightly, you lose your root. If you are restless, you lose your power.

The Master avoids excess, extravagance, and complacency.

Whoever relies on the Tao in governing men doesn't try to force issues or defeat enemies by force of arms.

Even the finest weapon is an instrument of fear; a civilized man will not use it unless he is forced to, and then with sadness and restraint.

His victory is not a cause for rejoicing. To rejoice in a conquest is to rejoice in the slaughter of men.

It accomplishes its work, but claims no credit. It dresses and feeds all things, but doesn't claim to be their master.

If powerful men and women could center themselves in it, the whole world would be transformed by itself, in its natural rhythm.

Where the state ceases—there begins the human being who is not superfluous: there begins the song of necessity, the unique and irreplaceable melody.

Are you a new strength and a new right? A first movement? A self-rolling wheel? Can you also compel stars to revolve around you?

He who cannot command himself should obey. And many a one can command himself, but still lacks much of self-obedience!

Help yourself: then everyone will help you. Principle of brother-love.

To do great things is difficult; but to command great things is more difficult.

Distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful.

One must have a good memory to be able to keep the promises one makes.

No one can construct for you the bridge upon which precisely you must cross the stream of life, no one but you yourself alone.

The more you give up control, the more power you have. Real power is the power of yielding, like water.

To live what you think is good and not what other people think is good is the highest form of courage.

If there is anything that we wish to change in the child, we should first examine it and see whether it is not something that could better be changed in ourselves.

Children are educated by what the grown-up is and not by his talk.

The greatest danger to mankind is not nature, but man himself, because we are the origin of all coming evil.

The only stable state is the one in which all men are equal before the law.

Law is reason, free from passion.

He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.

A state is an association of similar persons whose aim is the best life possible.

Of all the means of persuasion, personal character is the most effective.

Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime.

We make war that we may live in peace.

A brave, frank, clean-hearted, courageous and aspiring youth is the only foundation on which the future can be built.

Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind.

Whenever you are in doubt, apply the talisman: recall the face of the poorest person you have seen and ask if your next step will be of any use to them.

There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no cause that I am prepared to kill for.

A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.

Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary.

The spirit of democracy is not a mechanical thing to be adjusted by abolishing forms. It requires change of heart.

A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.

Never return injury for injury; answer cruelty with dignity.

The wise person bridges division with understanding.

Let your existence be a radiant beacon of hope.

The future of mankind lies in the awakening of the spiritual mind.

True unity respects and harmonizes all unique diversity.

The future belongs to those who embody the higher consciousness.

The future will witness the triumph of the spiritual soul.

Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous.

An enemy's enemy is a natural friend.

A leader who does not practice self-control will ruin his state.

Good counsel is the sharpest weapon of a statesman.

The greatest victory is won without fighting on the battlefield.

Flattery is the poison that ruins leaders.

The king should be accessible to his subjects at all times.

An unprincipled ally is more dangerous than an open enemy.

A well-administered treasury is the backbone of state power.

A courageous leader inspires an entire army to victory.

The law must be applied equally to the prince and the peasant.

The tree that does not yield fruit is cut down; a leader without virtue is deserted.

A nation's strength resides in the moral education of its youth.

A state flourishes when its leaders practice self-denial.

The wise ruler listens to the whisper of his people.

A corrupt judge destroys the foundations of a kingdom.

A leader must possess the courage to make difficult decisions.

The ruler who oppresses his subjects will soon be overthrown.

Honor those who speak truth to power.

Speak with measured gravity and act with decisive speed.

A virtuous leader is a blessing to the entire land.

The measure of your greatness is the welfare of your people.

Live with honor, govern with justice, and protect the weak.

A goal without a plan is just a wish.

Whatever you are, be a good one.

I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

The best way to predict your future is to create it.

Be the change that you wish to see in the world.

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

In a gentle way, you can shake the world.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.

It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.

Stay hungry, stay foolish.

Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.

Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.

Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.

Energy and persistence conquer all things.

Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.

The secret of getting ahead is getting started.

You can't cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.

To conquer without unsheathing the sword is the supreme mastery of the sage.

When the wind of change blows, some build walls while others build windmills.

If you want one year of prosperity, plant seeds. If ten years, plant trees. If a hundred years, cultivate people.

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

Governing a large household is like frying a delicate small fish: turn it too frequently and it falls apart.

Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.

Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable of being.

When the roots of a tree begin to decay, it spreads death to the highest branches.

In the season of crisis, the wise build bridges while the foolish build dams.

The ruin of a great nation begins in the neglected homes of its people.

The fruit falls not far from the parent tree; cultivate your own soil if you wish your children to flourish.

He who spares the wicked injures the good and innocent.

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.

Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking.

In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.

The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.

Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.

You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.

Every action you take is a vote for the person you wish to become.

What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.

The greatest danger to our future is apathy.

The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more.

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.

The heaviest penalty for declining to rule is to be ruled by someone inferior to yourself.

Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.

The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.

He who is not a good servant will not be a good master.

Those who tell the stories rule society.

Rhetoric is the art of ruling the minds of men.

A hero is born among a hundred, a wise man is found among a thousand, but an accomplished one might not be found even among a hundred thousand.

A state arises out of the needs of mankind; no one is self-sufficing, but all of us have many wants.

One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.

Justice in the life and conduct of the State is possible only as first it resides in the hearts and souls of the citizens.

The community which has neither poverty nor riches will always have the noblest principles.

Excess of liberty, whether in States or individuals, seems only to pass into excess of slavery.

The punishment which the wise suffer who refuse to take part in the government, is to live under the government of worse men.

States are as the men are; they grow out of human characters.

Democracy passes into despotism.

He who refuses to rule will be ruled by fools.

The craft of the ruler is not to look out for his own interest, but for the interest of the subject.

What brings no benefit to the hive brings no benefit to the bee.

Do what is necessary, and whatever the reason of a social animal requires, and in the manner in which it requires.

Never value anything as profitable that compels you to break your promise, to lose your self-respect, or to hate any man.

A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions.

Waste no more time talking about what a good human being should be. Embody it.

What is not good for the swarm is not good for the bee.

Every morning, remind yourself of the fellowship of all rational beings, and remember that you were born to cooperate with them.

Do what is right. It matters not if you are burning or freezing, sleepy or well-slept, reviled or praised, dying or busy with other duties.

He who spares the wicked injures the good.

Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power.

He who does not prevent a crime when he can, encourages it.

Treat your inferiors as you would be treated by your superiors.

A person’s greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness.

We should live as if we were in public view, and think as if our thoughts were open to the world.

The wound is the place where the light enters you.

What you seek is seeking you.

The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.

Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.

To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.

You cannot find peace by avoiding life.

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.

Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.

Out of your vulnerabilities will come your strength.

And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.