1125 – “Stability depends on superior and inferior communicating; there is none when they do not. From ancient times, many a state has fallen because a ruler did not know the affairs of the people.”

-Yongle Emperor Zhu Di

940 – 「君子以多識前言往行，以畜其德。」

“Jūnzǐ yǐ duō shì qiányán wǎng xíng, yǐ chù qí dé.”

“The superior man acquaints himself with many sayings of antiquity and many deeds of the past, in order to strengthen his character thereby.”

-Fuxi

448 – “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.”

–W L Sheldon [Often falsely attributed to Ernest Hemingway, see Source Notes]