The Book of Master Mo Quotes

“The noble man does not create; he transmits and that is all.”
― Mozi, The Book of Master Mo

“You don’t know what the first people had.”
― Mozi, The Book of Master Mo

“Words that aren’t good enough to put into practice yet are frequently used are a waste of breath.”
― Mozi, The Book of Master Mo

“The sage is averse to disease and decay; he is not averse to danger and difficulty.”
― Mozi, The Book of Master Mo

“Get rid of learning and there is no anxiety.”
― Mozi, The Book of Master Mo

“Seeing is by means of the eyes is like seeing is by means of fire.”
― Mozi, The Book of Master Mo

“Understand the idea (meaning) before replying.”
― Mozi, The Book of Master Mo

“To oppose what the sage kings took to be fundamental cannot be regarded as the way of the noble man.”
― Mozi, The Book of Master Mo

“The noble man doesn’t seek his reflection in water but in the people.”
― Mozi, The Book of Master Mo

“Those who condemn something must have the means of changing it.”
― Mozi, The Book of Master Mo

“Virtue is imposing only when it is truly imposing.”
― Mozi, The Book of Master Mo

“8.7 This is why Master Mo spoke”
― Mozi, The Book of Master Mo

“6.7 ‘Whatever turns and revolves between Heaven and earth”
― Mozi, The Book of Master Mo

“When officers are concerned about safeguarding their salaries”
― Mozi, The Book of Master Mo

“4.1 Master Mo said: ‘Those who work in the world cannot do so without standards and rules. Nobody has been able to accomplish anything without standards and rules. Even those officers who are generals and ministers all have standards. Even the hundred craftsmen in doing their work all have standards too.”
― Mozi, The Book of Master Mo

“In the Odes it says: ‘One must choose what one is steeped in; one must pay close attention to what one is steeped in.’4 This is what has been said.”
― Mozi, The Book of Master Mo

“The Way of the noble man is this: when poor to display honesty and when rich to display right action”
― Mozi, The Book of Master Mo