that I may understand the precepts ... thoroughly, and never break
them or be guilty of trespasses.--Inscription in Temple of Nakhon Vat.

Religion he looks upon as his best ornament.--Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king.

The sinner is never beautiful.--Lalita Vistara.

Use no perfume but sweetness of thoughts.--Siamese Buddhist Maxim.

Wealth and beauty, scented flowers and ornaments like these, are not
to be compared for grace with moral rectitude!--Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king.

He who ... cannot feel joy to see merit in others is stained with the
darkness of sin.--Story of Pratiharyya.

Ask not of (a person's) descent, but ask about his
conduct--Sundarikabharadvaja-sutta.

The young man Vasettha said: "When one is virtuous and full of (good)
works, in this way he becomes a Brahman."--Vasettha-sutta.

Not by birth does one become low caste, not by birth a Brahman; by his
deeds he becomes low caste, by his deeds he becomes a
Brahman.--Vasala-sutta.

Whosoever strikes, or by words annoys, mother or father, brother or
sister, ... let us know such as a "base-born."--Vasala-sutta.

Causing destruction to living beings, killing and mutilating, ...
stealing and speaking falsely, fraud and deception, ... these are