Foreigners can only fight with success in the summer. We can fight during any of the four seasons, so we have the weather on our side. Zhang Zhidong fightforeignerseason Change image and share on social
We must assent to the will of Heaven above and conform to the wishes of men on earth below, but the government should assert the majesty of its warlike might in order to drive away the hordes of fierce and cruel men. We know that the dispositions of these outer barbarians are as ravenous as those of wolves. Zhang Zhidong assentassertbarbarian share on social
If the Chinese will not learn the true principles of government, all else will be useless. Knowledge is power, and although a country may be weak, still, if it possess but a modicum of knowledge, the enemy will not be able to completely overthrow it; although that country may be in danger, the race will not be extirpated. Zhang Zhidong chinesecompletelycountry share on social
Sincerity is the norm of Heaven and the law of our nature. China and the West agree on this point, for without sincerity, no human prince could ever found a state, and no earthly teacher could ever establish a religion. Zhang Zhidong agreechinaearthly share on social
If, by one determined purpose, the hearts of all the graduates, the officials, and the men of China were united, our country would rest upon a great rock, and we could defy the world to overthrow us. To attain this object, it is necessary first that every man should fulfill his duty to his parents and elders. The country would then be at peace. Zhang Zhidong attainchinacountry share on social
People who have got to know Western educational methods always claim that the reading of the Classics was a useless waste of time and should be abolished. Such chatter is to be heard from hundreds of people and cannot be stopped. But it is a serious mistake. Zhang Zhidong abolishchatterclaim share on social
Primary education was in the first place to teach people to be good people. Only secondary education teaches people to also be useful people. Zhang Zhidong educationgoodpeople Change image and share on social
There never yet has been a country which became powerful without knowledge. A man by his own strength alone cannot successfully combat a tiger, but by his intelligence, he can devise means to entrap him. Zhang Zhidong combatcountrydevise share on social
Without knowing about flexibility, one cannot work out strategies to deal with the enemy and prepare for changes, and without knowing about the foundation of one's own culture, one would be contemptuous of the Confucian ethical codes. Zhang Zhidong codeconfuciancontemptuous share on social