The essential difference between the noble person (Junzi) and the petty person (Xiaoren) is like ice and charcoal that cannot coexist, or fragrant grass and stinking herbs that cannot mix. — Song Dynasty, Zhu Xi
The noble and the petty differ in their aspirations; the core distinction lies merely between public duty and private interest. — Song Dynasty, Zhu Xi
The noble person uses talent to do good, while the petty person uses talent to do evil. — Zizhi Tongjian
The noble person promotes others' good deeds, while the petty person spreads others' bad deeds. — Tang Dynasty, Wu Jing
The noble person judges others by moral character, while the petty person judges others by status and power. — Qing Dynasty, Song Shui
The noble person has lifelong concerns, but no momentary worries. — Mencius
In trivial matters, the noble person may not always appear impressive, but their ability is sufficient to bear heavy responsibility; the petty person, though narrow in capacity, may still possess some redeeming quality. — Song Dynasty, Zhu Xi
Noble people form friendships based on shared ideals, while petty people form friendships based on shared interests. — Song Dynasty, Ouyang Xiu
The noble person understands righteousness, while the petty person understands profit. — The Analects, Liren
The friendship of the noble is light as water; the friendship of the petty is sweet as wine. The noble bond is light yet enduring, while the petty bond is sweet yet fragile. — Zhuangzi
Those who aim for distant goals must be willing to wait; those who seek great achievements must be willing to endure. — Song Dynasty, Su Shi
The noble person's pursuit of profit benefits others; the petty person's pursuit of profit benefits themselves. — Ming Dynasty, Fang Xiaoru
The noble person's heart may seem small in appearance, but their spirit is vast enough to embrace the world. — Qing Dynasty, Jin Ying
The conduct of the noble person is characterized by stillness for self-cultivation and frugality for nurturing virtue. Without serenity, one cannot clarify one's ambitions; without tranquility, one cannot reach distant goals. — Three Kingdoms Period, Zhuge Liang
The noble person navigates the world through virtue, hence having no fear of lacking position; the petty person navigates the world through power and profit, hence being constantly anxious and willing to do anything. — Song Dynasty, Hu Hong
The noble person follows the Doctrine of the Mean, while the petty person opposes it. The noble person's adherence to the Mean is dynamic and timely; the petty person's deviation from the Mean is reckless and uninhibited. — Book of Rites, Doctrine of the Mean
The noble person unites without factional bias, while the petty person forms factions without unity. — The Analects, Weizheng
Heaven does not stop winter because humans dislike the cold, and Earth does not stop being vast because humans dislike distance; similarly, the noble person does not stop their righteous path because of petty people's clamor. — Xunzi, Tianlun
When petty people are dismissed, they often resent their superiors; noble people remain content whether in obscurity or prominence, never forgetting their ruler. — Dui Yi Xiang Shuo
Acceptance and rejection are vastly different. Moreover, the noble's friendship is light as water, while the petty's is sweet as wine. The noble bond is light yet intimate, the petty's is sweet yet severed. Those who gather without cause will also separate without cause. — Zhuangzi, Shanmu
Your servant has heard that a ruler's duty is to promote good and condemn evil, to approach the noble and distance the petty. If the promotion of good is clear, noble people will advance; if the condemnation of evil is evident, petty people will retreat. — Zhenguan Zhengyao, Volume 5
