Confucius on Virtue (generally)

Of general virtue Confucius said:

• "I have not seen a person who loved virtue, or one who hated what was not virtuous. He who loved virtue would esteem nothing above it."
• "Is virtue a thing remote? I wish to be virtuous, and lo! Virtue is at hand."
• "The determined scholar and the man of virtue will not seek to live at the expense of injuring their virtue. They will even sacrifice their lives to preserve their virtue complete."
• "The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue."
• "The man of virtue makes the difficulty to be overcome his first business, and success only a subsequent consideration."
• "To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue...[They are] gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness."
• "Virtue is more to man than either water or fire. I have seen men die from treading on water and fire, but I have never seen a man die from treading the course of virtue."
• "Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors."
• "When a man's knowledge is sufficient to attain, and his virtue is not sufficient to enable him to hold, whatever he may have gained, he will lose again."
• "To be able under all circumstances to practice five things constitutes perfect virtue; these five things are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness and kindness."
• "Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue."
• "He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it."