Chinese Philosopher Quotations

If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.

Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of victory in the attack.

If what the heart approves conforms to proper patterns, then even if one's desires are many, what harm would they be to good order?

After learning the language and culture of the Chinese people, these Jesuits began to establish contacts with the young intellectuals of the country.

Whether the gentleman is capable or not, he is loved all the same; conversely the petty man is loathed all the same.

In antiquity the sage kings recognized that men's nature is bad and that their tendencies were not being corrected and their lawlessness controlled.

If the king loves music, there is little wrong in the land.

I once tried standing up on my toes to see far out in the distance, but I found that I could see much farther by climbing to a high place.

In order to properly understand the big picture, everyone should fear becoming mentally clouded and obsessed with one small section of truth.

If the impulse to daring and bravery is too fierce and violent, stay it with guidance and instruction.

The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere.

A person is born with desires of the eyes and ears, and a liking for beautiful sights and sounds. If he gives way to them, they will lead him to immorality and lack of restriction, and any ritual principles and propriety will be abandoned.

Cherish that which is within you, and shut off that which is without; for much knowledge is a curse.

The petty man is eager to make boasts, yet desires that others should believe in him. He enthusiastically engages in deception, yet wants others to have affection for him. He conducts himself like an animal, yet wants others to think well of him.

I dreamed I was a butterfly, flitting around in the sky; then I awoke. Now I wonder: Am I a man who dreamt of being a butterfly, or am I a butterfly dreaming that I am a man?

Therefore, a person should first be changed by a teacher's instructions, and guided by principles of ritual. Only then can he observe the rules of courtesy and humility, obey the conventions and rules of society, and achieve order.

Thus, that one can find no place to walk through the breadth of the earth is not because the earth is not tranquil but because the danger to every step of the traveler lies generally with words.

If the gentleman has ability, he is magnanimous, generous, tolerant, and straightforward, through which he opens the way to instruct others.

Can you imagine what I would do if I could do all I can?

When you concentrate on agriculture and industry and are frugal in expenditures, Heaven cannot impoverish your state.

Truth uttered before its time is always dangerous.

There are three methods to gaining wisdom. The first is reflection, which is the highest. The second is limitation, which is the easiest. The third is experience, which is the bitterest.

Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity.

If knowledge and foresight are too penetrating and deep, unify them with ease and sincerity.

A person is born with feelings of envy and hate. If he gives way to them, they will lead him to violence and crime, and any sense of loyalty and good faith will be abandoned.

I once tried thinking for an entire day, but I found it less valuable than one moment of study.

Human nature refers to what is in people but which they cannot study or work at achieving.

He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious.

When a man sees something desirable, he must reflect on the fact that with time it could come to involve what is detestable. When he sees something that is beneficial, he should reflect that sooner or later it, too, could come to involve harm.

Sacrifices are concerned with the feelings of devotion and longing.

Mencius said that human nature is good. I disagree with that.

Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.

A person is born with a liking for profit.

Thus, anybody who follows this nature and gives way its states will be led into quarrels and conflicts, and go against the conventions and rules of society, and will end up a criminal.

Let men decide firmly what they will not do, and they will be free to do vigorously what they ought to do.

The rigid cause themselves to be broken; the pliable cause themselves to be bound.

Human nature is such that people are born with a love of profit If they follow these inclinations, they will struggle and snatch from each other, and inclinations to defer or yield will die.

When people lack teachers, their tendencies are not corrected; when they do not have ritual and moral principles, then their lawlessness is not controlled.

The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself.

Those whose character is mean and vicious will rouse others to animosity against them.

The coming of honor or disgrace must be a reflection of one's inner power.

There are successful scholars, public-spirited scholars, upright scholars, cautious scholars, and those who are merely petty men.

Music is a fantastic peacekeeper of the world, it is integral to harmony, and it is a required fundamental of human emotion.

If the blood humor is too strong and robust, calm it with balance and harmony.

Since the nature of people is bad, to become corrected they must be taught by teachers and to be orderly they must acquire ritual and moral principles.

If the quickness of the mind and the fluency of the tongue are too punctilious and sharp, moderate them in your activity and rest.

Now it is human nature to want to eat to ones fill when hungry, to want to warm up when cold, to want to rest when tired. These all are a part of people's emotional nature.

Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand.

The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself.

The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.

To see the right and not to do it is cowardice.

For the wise man looks into space and he knows there is no limited dimensions.

I agree totally with Metheny regarding the sound influencing the way you play.

People who listen to the music for the music and are adventurous in their playing tend to dig it, those who have a narrower perspective don't.

Tone on jazz guitars is a real tough issue.

The synth allows me to breathe with woodwind and brass players and opens up phrasing possibilities not possible with standard guitar.

After a couple years of occasional lessons with Pass I moved to Boston to attend the New England Conservatory.

The Renaissance movement of the last two decades differs from all the early movements in being a fully conscious and studied movement.

Still others want a traditional guitar sound if they call you for guitar.

I love the traditional sound of a guy like Wes or Jim Hall and when I'm playing that type of music I gravitate to that kind of sound.

In fact like most other kids in the late 60's I was listening to Hendrix, Allman Bros., Beatles, Eric Clapton and Led Zepplin among other stuff.

Great is the man who has not lost his childlike heart.

The combination of experience and experimentation will ultimately yield a personal sound.

It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop.

To know what is right and not to do it is the worst cowardice.

There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.

If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete.

A good traveller has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.