Confucius Quotes

A fool marvels at rare things, but a wise man at common ones.

If you want to change the world, first change your heart.

To know it is not as good as to love it, and to love it is not as good as to take delight in it.

First there must be order and harmony within your own mind. Then this order will spread to your family, then to the community, and finally to your entire kingdom. Only then can you have peace and harmony.

A hammer shatters glass but it also forges steel.

A superior man may be made to go to the well, but he cannot be made to go down into it. He may be imposed upon, but he cannot be fooled.

The way out is through the door. Why is it that no one will use this method?

Although your father and mother are dead, if you propose to yourself any good work, only reflect how it will make their names illustrious, and your purpose will be fixed.

It doesn't make a difference how gradually you go so long as you don't stop.

Of all that Heaven produces and nourishes, there is none so great as man.

The superior man is anxious lest he should not get the truth; he is not anxious lest poverty should come upon him.

A disciple having asked for a definition of charity, the Master said LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

The superior man is slow in his words and earnest in his conduct.

A person of character takes as much trouble to discover what is right as the lesser men take to discover what will pay.

To be fond of learning is near to wisdom.

The gentleman desires to be halting in speech but quick in action.

He who chases two rabbits, catches none.

Every truth has four corners: as a teacher I give you one corner, and it is for you to find the other three.

I was complaining that I had no shoes till I met a man who had no feet.

Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly.

Everyone eats and drinks; yet only few appreciate the taste of food.

I have never seen a man as fond of virtue as of women.

If you shoot for the stars and hit the moon, it's OK. But you've got to shoot for something. A lot of people don't even shoot.

A youth, when at home, should be filial, and, abroad, respectful to his elders.

The administration of government lies in getting proper men. Such men are to be got by means of the ruler's own character. That character is to be cultivated by his treading in the ways of duty. And the treading those ways of duty is to be cultivated by the cherishing of benevolence.

In old days men studied for the sake of self-improvement; nowadays men study in order to impress other people.

Who expects to be able to go out of a house except by the door? How is it then that no one follows this Way of ours?

Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak not what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety.

To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous.

There is a growing interest in Confucianism in China and other parts of the world. More and more followers of Confucianism are advocating a deeper study of his philosophies. Confucius' ideals stand true even today. His philosophy on how to be a Junzi or the perfect gentleman is based on the simple ideology of love and tolerance.

To study and constantly, is this not a pleasure? To have friends come from far away places, is this not a joy? If people do not recognize your worth, but this does not worry you, are you not a true gentleman?

If one leads them with administrative measures and uses punishments to make them conform, the people will be evasive, but if one leads them with virtue, they will come up to expectations.

All things are nourished together without their injuring one another. The courses of the seasons, and of the sun and moon, are pursued without any collision among them. The smaller energies are like river currents; the greater energies are seen in mighty transformations. It is this which makes heaven and earth so great.

Instead of being concerned that you have no office, be concerned to think how you may fit yourself for office. Instead of being concerned that you are not known, seek to be worthy of being known.

Only by perfect virtue can the perfect path, in all its courses, be made a fact.

Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.

He who works for his own interests will arouse much animosity

The rich fool is like a pig that is choked by its own fat.

If the people are governed by laws and punishment is used to maintain order, they will try to avoid the punishment but have no sense of shame. If they are governed by virtue and rules of propriety are used to maintain order, they will have a sense of shame and will become good as well.

He who is harmony with Nature hits the mark without effort and apprehends the truth without thinking.

Listen widely to remove your doubts and be careful when speaking about the rest and your mistakes will be few. See much and get rid of what is dangerous and be careful in acting on the rest and your causes for regret will be few. Speaking without fault, acting without causing regret: 'upgrading' consists in this.

Don't do unto others what you don't want others to do unto you.

Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.

Do unto others what you want done unto you.

We can know a person by observing his behaviour, understanding the reasons for his actions and ascertaining his intentions. If we do this, how can we not know him?

Wisdom delights in water; love delights in hills. Wisdom is stirring; love is quiet. Wisdom is merry; love grows old.

All the darkness in the world can't put out the light of one candle.

Silence is the true friend that never betrays.