Before hastening to secure a possible reward of five taels by dragging an unobservant person away from a falling building, examine well his features lest you find, when too late, that it is one to whom you are indebted for double that amount.

When Ling was communicating to any person the signs by which messengers might find him, he was compelled to add, 'the neighbourhood in which this contemptible …

In his countenance this person read an expression of no-encouragement towards his venture.

Although there exist many thousand subjects for elegant conversation, there are persons who cannot meet a cripple without talking about feet.

Though he love not to buy the pig in the poke.

Better to be despised for too anxious apprehensions, than ruined by too confident a security.

Anything you don't understand is dangerous until you do understand it.