If what we see is doubtful, how can we believe what is spoken behind the back?--INSCRIPTION in "Celestial Influence Temple." Words which are simple, while their meaning is far-reaching, are good words. Principles which are held as compendious, while their application is extensive, are good principles. The words of the superior man are not necessarily high-sounding, but great principles are contained in them.--MENCIUS, Tsin Sin (ch. xxxii.). The superior man is correctly firm, and not firm merely.--CONFUCIAN AN., Wei Ling Kung (ch. xxxvi.). For one word a man is often deemed to be wise; and for one word he is often deemed to be foolish. We ought to be careful indeed in what we say.--CONFUCIAN AN., Observations of Tsze Kung. In archery we have something like the way of the superior man. When the archer misses the centre of the target, he turns round and seeks for the cause of his failure in himself.--DOCTRINE OF THE MEAN (ch. xiv.). God leads men to tranquil security.--SHOO KING, ii., Numerous Officers (ch. ii.). The glory and tranquillity of a State may arise from the excellence of one man.--SHOO KING, ii., Speech of the Duke of Tsin (ch. viii.). Mencius said, The superior man has two things in which he delights, and to be ruler over the empire is not one of them. That his father and mother are both alive, and that the condition of his brothers affords no cause for anxiety; this is one delight. Then when looking up he has no occasion for shame before heaven, and below he has no occasion to blush before men; this is a second delight.--MENCIUS, Tsin Sin (pt. i., ch. xx.). Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with virtue.--CONFUCIAN AN., Yang Ho (ch. xvii.). I am pleased with your intelligent virtue, not loudly proclaimed nor portrayed, without extravagance or changeableness, without consciousness of effort on your part, in accordance with the pattern of God.--SHE KING, ii., Major Odes, Hwang I. Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.--CONFUCIAN AN., Wei Ching (ch. xv.). Without recognizing the ordinances of Heaven it is impossible to be a superior man.--CONFUCIAN AN., Yaou Yue (ch. iii.). Be tremblingly fearful, Be careful night and day; Men trip not on mountains, They trip on ant-hills. YAOU'S WARNING, Poem from Hwae Nan. The ways of God are not invariable; on the good doer he sends down all blessings, and on the evil doer he sends down all miseries.--SHOO KING, Instructions of E (ch. iv.). In the way of superior man there are four things, not one of which have I as yet attained:--To serve my father as I would require my son to serve me; to serve my Prince as I would require my minister to serve me; to serve my elder brother as I would require my younger brother to serve me; to set the example in behaving to a friend as I would require him to behave to me.--DOCTRINE OF THE MEAN (ch. xiii.).