The desire of a sage is the same as that of the multitude.
多行无礼，必自及也。——《左传•襄公四年》
He who frequently breaks the rules of ceremonies will surely bring about harm to himself.
君子上交不谄，下交不渎。——《周易•系辞下》
A gentleman neither fawns on those who are superior to him, nor slights those who are inferior.
兄弟阋于墙,外御其务。——《诗经·小雅·棠棣》
Brothers, though quareling at home, should fight together against the insult from outside.
二人同心，其利断金。——《周易·系辞上》
When two men are one in heart, they will get such a strength that metal can be easily cut.
居上位而不骄，在下位而不忧。——《周易·文言》
No complacence when ranked high; no anxiety when low.
知过谓之智，改过谓之勇，无过谓之仁。——《陈确集》
Wisdom means to find out one’s own mistakes. Courage means the correction of those means to make no mistakes.
防微杜渐而禁于未然。——《元史·张桢传》
Evils should be prevented before they are fully developed.
人生自古谁无死，留取丹心照汗青。——文天祥《过零丁洋》
Since death is unavoidable to everyone throughout history, what one should strive for is a loyal heart, gloriously recorded in the historic books.
贫贱忧戚，庸玉女于成也。——《正蒙·乾称》
Poverty, humbleness, depression and woe all greatly help a man to achieve great success.
淡则欲心平，和则躁心释。——周敦颐《通书·乐上》
Nonchalance calms down the desires and peace expels impetuously.
水能载舟，亦能覆舟。
The water that bears the boat is the same that swallows it up.
春蚕到死丝方尽，蜡炬成灰泪始干。——李商隐《无题》
Till the end of life a silk worm keeps spining silk.Till burning itself out a candle goes on lighting us.
谁言寸草心，报得三春晖。——孟郊《游子吟》
Never enough is the gratitude of grass for the grace of the spring sun.
言非法度不出于口，行非公道不萌于心。——杨炯《杜袁州墓志铭》
Speak nothing against laws and regulations, and think nothing against justice.
不为苟得以偷安，不为苟免而无耻。——《群书治要·体论》
Do not seek ignoble, nor to preserve life with disgrace.
生以救时，死以明道。——《中说·周公》
Try to secure society from dangers when alive.
Die a heroic death to illustrate Tao.
勿以恶小而为之，勿以善小而不为。——《三国志·蜀志·先生传》
Do not do evil things though they may be insignificant.
Do not give up good things though they may be minor matters.
良将不怯死以苟免，烈士不毁节以求生。——《三国志·魏志·庞德传》
A good general never escapes from battles through fear of death.
A hero never saves his life at the cost of his conduct.
并非有钱就是快乐，问心无愧心最安
Having money does not always bring happiness,
but having a clear conscious definitely brings a peace of mind.
尽信书则不如无书。 《孟子·尽心下》
We would rather be short of books than believe all that they say.
有教无类。 《论语·卫灵公》
Education should be for all, irrespective of their social status.
大凡为学，先须立志，志大而大，志小而小。有有志而不遂者矣，未有无志而成者也。张履祥《初学备忘》
Generally speaking, one who intends to learn must be determined first and foremost. With great determination, one’s achievement in learning will be great; with lack of will, his achievement will be small. There are some who show determination but still fail to succeed in learning. Without the will, however, there is no prospect of success.
发愤忘食,乐以忘忧,不知老之将至。《论语·述而》
So dilligent and occupied am I in learning as to forget meals, and so great a rejoicing have I attained in it as to forget all worries and sorrows. In such a mood, I even forget I am getting old.
止谤莫如修身。——《中论·道虚》
The best way not to be slandered is to devote oneself to selfcultivation.
欲人勿闻，莫若勿言；欲人勿知，莫若勿为。《汉书·枚乘传》
If you do not want to be heard, you’d better keep silent; if you do not want your actions to be seen, you’d better not start.
凡学之道，严师为难。师严，然后道尊。道尊，然后民知敬学。《礼记·学记》
About learning, the most difficult thing is to find strict teachers. Only when the teachers are strict can the students appreciate the Tao. Only when the Tao is appreciated can people respect learning.
善待问者如撞钟,叩之以小则小鸣，叩之以大则大鸣。《礼记•学记》
A teacher who is good at answering students’ inquires is like a bell being struck. Being slightly struck, it will ring in a low voice; being heavily struck, it will ring loud. 处逸乐而欲不放，居贫穷而志不倦。——《论衡`自记》
Be not wanton when in leisure and pleasure. Neither be frustrated when in poverty and hardship.
诚无诟，思无辱。——《说苑·敬慎》
Honesty prevents defilement and thinking prevents disgrace.
君子之言寡而实，小人之言多而虚。——《说苑·说从》
A superior man talks little but it is the truth; whereas an inferior man talks much, but it is false.
士不以利移，不为患改。——《说苑·说从》
A superior man never changes his mind for profits nor wavers in the face of perils.
水至清则无鱼,人至察则无徒。《汉书·东方朔传》
No fish can survive if the water is too clean. For the same reason, no company can bear one whose requirements are too critical.
君子有三患：未之闻；患弗得闻也；既闻之，患弗得学也；既学之，患弗能行也。《礼记·杂学》
A gentleman has three worries: not yet being informed of a good thing, he worries until he knows. When he knows, he begins to worry he has not yet learned it. When he learns it, he begins to worry he has not yet put it into practice.