Never tire of learning for it will subdue our bad habits; never tire of teaching for it will educate and transform people.

Scroll 36: Shi Zi

A superior person will study hard so that he can accumulate knowledge and improve his moral standing. He will ask questions to find out about the truth. He is considerate in his dealings with people, and he uses benevolence and compassion to guide his actions.

Scroll 1: Zhou Yi

If a craftsman wishes to perfect his skills he must first sharpen his tools. If a scholar wishes to promote the teachings of righteous virtues he must first study the classics written by the sages. The book of Yi Jing said: “A superior person must remember and learn from the many paths taken by the forefathers so that he can enrich his own moral cultivation.”

Scroll 44: Qian Fu Lun

Zengzi said: “A superior person will exhaust all efforts to correct his own faults. He will examine his own shortcomings, break through his limitations, get rid of his selfish desires, and do what is right in accordance to the righteous principles. This can be said to be true scholarship.”

Scroll 35: Zeng Zi

Confucius said: “I have tried to spend a whole day without eating and a whole night without sleeping in order to meditate but I got nothing out of it. I might just as well study the classics written by the sages.”

Scroll 9: Lun Yu

I reflect upon the good deeds done by others and I will learn from them. I will also reflect upon the bad deeds done by others and warn myself against them. People who give me direct and accurate criticisms are my teachers. People who give me their support in a reasonable manner are my friends. People who fawn over me are the ones who will hurt me.

Scroll 38: Sun Qing Zi