A cowardly pride and an arrogant sense of shame.

The cowardly fear of exposing one's lack of talent, and the terror that even after grinding effort, one's innate insufficiency might become all the more apparent.

To meekly accept what is thrust upon us without reason, and to go on living without reason -- that is the fate of all living beings.

There is no substitute for hard work.

-- Thomas Edison

I never did anything by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by work.

-- Thomas Edison

Never flatter others. Never desire wealth and status.

-- Kuroda Yoshitaka

When you are earnest, wisdom emerges. When you are half-hearted, complaints emerge. When you are careless, excuses emerge.

-- Takeda Shingen

When I served Xiang Yu, my rank never exceeded that of a palace guard, and my position was no more than a halberd-bearer. My words went unheeded, my plans unused -- and so I left Chu for Han.

-- Han Xin

Promote the talented regardless of background, and I shall employ them.

-- Cao Cao