Confucius, aka Kong Qiu, Zhongni, K'ung Fu-tzu or Kong Fuzi

Exemplary persons cherish fairness; petty persons cherish the thought of gain.

Make an earnest commitment to the love of learning.

You want to become the kind of counselor who is an exemplary person, not the kind that is a petty person.

Exemplary persons do not promote others because of what they say, nor do they reject what is said because of who says it.

Not yet understanding life, how could you understand death?

Exemplary persons help out the needy; they do not make the rich richer.

Raise up the true and place them over the crooked, and the allegiance of the people will be yours; raise up the crooked and place them over the true, and the people will not be yours.

Exemplary persons understand what is appropriate; petty persons understand what is of personal advantage.

Set an example yourself for those in office, pardon minor offenses, and promote those with superior character and ability.

An exemplary person defers on matters he does not understand. When names are not used properly, language will not be used effectively; when language is not used effectively, matters will not be taken care of.

Exemplary persons would feel shame if their words were better than their deeds.

Study as though you cannot catch up to it, and as though you fear you are going to lose it.

Confucius is driven by such eagerness to teach and learn that he forgets to eat, he enjoys himself so much that he forgets to worry, and does not even realize that old age is on its way.

Having gone astray, to fail to get right back on track is to stray indeed.

The exemplary person helps to bring out the best in others, but does not help bring out the worse. The petty person does just the opposite.

Daily I examine my person on three counts. In my undertaking on behalf of other people, have I failed to do my utmost? In my interactions with colleagues and friends, have I failed to make good on my word? In what has been passed on to me, have I failed to carry it into practice? ? Master Zeng

I am not the kind of person who has gained knowledge through some natural propensity for it. Rather, loving antiquity, I am earnest in seeking it out.

The exemplary person takes the high road, while the petty person takes the low.

Deference, tolerance, making good on one?s word, diligence, and generosity. If you are deferential (respectful), you will not suffer insult; if tolerant, you will win over the many; if you make good on your word, others will rely upon you; if diligent, you will get results; if generous, you will have the status to employ others effectively. (On the five attitudes.)

If in one?s conduct one refrains from intimidation, from self-importance, from ill will, and from greed, can one be considered authoritative.

The person who does not consider what is far off will not escape being alarmed at what is near at hand.

Do I possess all knowledge? No, I do not. But if a simple peasant puts a question to me, and I come up empty, I attack the question from both ends until I have gotten to the bottom of it.

If proper in their own conduct, what difficulty would they have in governing? But if not able to be proper in their own conduct, how can they demand such conduct from others?

Those near at hand are pleased, and those at a distance are drawn to you. (When governing effectively.)

Do not impose upon others what you yourself do not want.