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[“‘Wretch that I am,’ they cry, ‘one fatal day has deprived me of all joys of life.’”--Lucretius, iii. 911.]

The Master said, 'There are some with whom we may study in common, but we shall find them unable to go along with us to principles. Perhaps we may go on with them to principles, but we shall find them unable to get established in those along with us. Or if we may get so established along with them, we shall find them unable to weigh occurring events along with us.'

The Master said, 'There is Hui! He has nearly attained to perfect virtue. He is often in want. 2. 'Ts'ze does not acquiesce in the appointments of Heaven, and his goods are increased by him. Yet his judgments are often correct.'

Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient.

The Master said, 'The virtuous will be sure to speak correctly, but those whose speech is good may not always be virtuous. Men of principle are sure to be bold, but those who are bold may not always be men of principle.'

The Master angled,-- but did not use a net. He shot,-- but not at birds perching.

The Master said, 'Ah! it is Yu, who could with half a word settle litigations!' 2. Tsze-lu never slept over a promise.

The stable being burned down, when he was at court, on his return he said, 'Has any man been hurt?' He did not ask about the horses.

The Master said, 'To be poor without murmuring is difficult. To be rich without being proud is easy.'

There are short days and long; the moon has its periods of waning and waxing.

Yuan Zang was squatting on his heels, and so waited the approach of the Master, who said to him, 'In youth not humble as befits a junior; in manhood, doing nothing worthy of being handed down; and living on to old age:-- this is to be a pest.' With this he hit him on the shank with his staff.

We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbours.

Ch'ai is simple. 2. Shan is dull. 3. Shih is specious. 4. Yu is coarse.

The Master said, 'Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles. Have no friends not equal to yourself. When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.'

The Master said, 'In preparing the governmental notifications, P'i Shan first made the rough draft; Shi-shu examined and discussed its contents; Tsze-yu, the manager of Foreign intercourse, then polished the style; and, finally, Tsze-ch'an of Tung-li gave it the proper elegance and finish.'

There are short days and long; the moon has its periods of waning and waxing.

Move only if there is a real advantage to be gained.

[An alternative reading offered by Chia Lin is: "Know beforehand all plans conducive to our success and to the enemy’s failure."

[“Live triumphing over as many ages as you will, death still will remain eternal.”--Lucretius, iii. 1103]

“Quid quisque, vitet, nunquam homini satis Cautum est in horas.”