On matters beyond his ken a gentleman speaks with caution. If names are not right, words are misused. When words are misused, affairs go wrong. When affairs go wrong, courtesy and music droop, law and justice fail. And when law and justice fail them, a people can move neither hand nor foot. So a gentleman must be ready to put names in speech, to put words into deeds. A gentleman is nowise careless of words.
ConfuciusDon't worry if people don't recognize your merits; worry that you may not recognize theirs.
ConfuciusIf you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.
ConfuciusWhen a person should be spoken with, and you don't speak with them, you lose them. When a person shouldn't be spoken with and you speak to them, you waste your breath. The wise do not lose people, nor do they waste their breath.
ConfuciusLove of goodness without love of learning degenerates into simple-mindedness. Love of knowledge without love of learning degenerates into utter lack of principle. Love of faithfulness without love of learning degenerates into injurious disregard of consequences. Love of uprightness without love of learning degenerates into harshness. Love of courage without love of learning degenerates into insubordination. Love of strong character without love of learning degenerates into mere recklessness.
ConfuciusWhen young, beware of fighting; when strong, beware of sex; and when old, beware of possession.
ConfuciusThe Master said, A gentleman, in his plans, thinks of the Way; he does not think how he is going to make a living. Even farming sometimes entails 5 times of shortage; and even learning may incidentally lead to high pay. But a gentleman's anxieties concern the progress of the Way; he has no anxiety concerning poverty.
ConfuciusIf proper in their own conduct, what difficulty would they have in governing? But if not able to be proper in their own conduct, how can they demand such conduct from others?
ConfuciusThere is nothing more visible than what is secret, and nothing more manifest than what is minute.
ConfuciusThe failure to cultivate virtue, the failure to examine and analyze what I have learned, the inability to move toward righteousness after being shown the way, the inability to correct my faults-these are the causes of my grief.
ConfuciusOnly one who bursts with enthusiasm do I instruct; Only one who bubbles with excitement do I enlighten. If I hold up one corner and you do not come back to me with the other three, I do not continue the lesson.
ConfuciusThe Master said, “A true gentleman is one who has set his heart upon the Way. A fellow who is ashamed merely of shabby clothing or modest meals is not even worth conversing with.” (Analects 4.9)
ConfuciusThere are three things against which the wise man guards: lust when young, quarrels when strong, and covetousness when old.
ConfuciusHe who rules by moral force is like the pole star, which remains in place while all the lesser stars do homage to it.
ConfuciusDoes Heaven ever speak? The four seasons come and go, and all creatures thrive and grow. Does Heaven ever speak!
ConfuciusHe who learns but does not think, is lost. He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.
ConfuciusIt is when those who are not strong enough have made some moderate amount of progress that they fail and give up.
ConfuciusThe father who does not teach his son his duties is equally guilty with the son who neglects them.
ConfuciusThe Master said, I set my heart on the Way, base myself on virtue, lean upon benevolence for support and take my recreation in the arts.
ConfuciusWouldst thou know if a people be well governed, or if its laws be good or bad, examine the music it practices.
ConfuciusWhen a man feels the difficulty of doing, can he be other than cautious and slow in speaking?
Confucius