Confucius said:

“In order to cultivate themselves, people must first rectify their own hearts and minds. Wishing to rectify their hearts and minds, they must first seek to practice sincerity. Wishing to practice sincerity, they must first extend to the utmost their knowledge, which involves the investigation of things to their roots. By gaining insight into the nature of things, wisdom becomes complete and you realize the highest good. In apprehending the highest good, you can manifest sincerity. By manifesting sincerity, you rectify your heart and mind. By rectifying your heart and mind, you cultivate yourself. By cultivating yourself, you thereby guide your family. From guiding your family, you establish moral order in your community and states and by establishing moral order in your state you bring peace and prosperity to the whole country.”

And I'll just share this again, because people need the reminder:

When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.

I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family.

Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. >My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.

by Unknown Monk, 1100 A.D.