The Analects IV

「务民之义，敬鬼神而远之，可谓知矣。」

Translation: "To give one's self earnestly to the duties due to men, and, while respecting spiritual beings, to keep aloof from them, may be called wisdom."

「仁者先难而後获，可谓仁矣。」

Translation: "The man of virtue makes the difficulty to be overcome his first business, and success only a subsequent consideration: this may be called perfect virtue."

「知者乐水，仁者乐山。知者动，仁者静。知者乐，仁者寿。」

Translation: "The wise find pleasure in water; the virtuous find pleasure in hills. The wise are active; the virtuous are tranquil. The wise are joyful; the virtuous are long-lived."

「君子博学於文，约之以礼，亦可以弗畔矣夫！」

Translation: "The superior man, extensively studying all learning, and keeping himself under the restraint of the rules of propriety, may thus likewise not overstep what is right."

「默而识之，学而不厌，诲人不倦，何有於我哉？」

Translation: "The silent treasuring up of knowledge; learning without satiety; and instructing others without being wearied: which one of these things belongs to me?"

「德之不修，学之不讲，闻义不能徒，不善不能改，是吾忧也。」

Translation: "Leaving virtue without proper cultivation; not thoroughly discussing what is learned; not being able to move towards righteousness of which a knowledge is gained; and not being able to change what is not good:-these are the things which occasion me solicitude."

「三人行，必有我师焉：择其善者而从之，其不善者而改之。」

Translation: "When I walk along with two others, they may serve me as my teachers. I will select their good qualities and follow them, their bad qualities and avoid them."

「君子坦荡荡，小人长戚戚。」

Translation: "The superior man is satisfied and composed; the mean man is always full of distress."

「君子安而不忘危，存而不忘亡，治而不忘乱。是以身安而国家可保也。」

Translation: "The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does not forget that disorder may come. Thus his person is not endangered, and his States and all their clans are preserved."