Confucius Quotes

He is the truly courageous man who never desponds.

It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.

Knowledge without practice is useless. Practice without knowledge is dangerous.

If the gentleman is not serious, he will not be respected, and his learning will not be on a firm foundation. He considers loyalty and faithfulness to be fundamental, has no friends who are not like him, and when he has made mistakes, he is not afraid of correcting them.

In antiquity men studied for their own sake; nowadays men study for the sake of impressing others.

There are three things to beware of through life: when a man is young, let him beware of his appetites; when he is middle-aged, of his passions; and when old, of covetousness, especially.

There are 3 elements essential in the matters of the State, Food, Military equipment, and Confidence of the people in the ruler. Of these 3, Military Equipment is the least important, Food being the 2nd important, and Confidence of the people being the MOST important. All men rather die of starvation than in war, but nevertheless all men do die of old age. Lacking in Confidence from the people, a state cannot survive.

When wealth is centralized, the people are dispersed. When wealth is distributed, the people are brought together.

If a man sets his heart on benevolence he will be free from evil.

Consideration for others is the basis of a good life, a good society.

A heart set on love will do no wrong.

It is only the very wisest and the very stupidest who never change.

Possessed of courage but devoid of morality, a superior man will make trouble while a small man will be a brigand.

There are some with whom we may study in common, but we shall find them unable to go along with us to principles. Perhaps we may go on with them to principles, but we shall find them unable to get established in those along with us. Or if we may get so established along with them, we shall find them unable to weigh occurring events along with us.

To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.

The superior man is satisfied and composed; the mean man is always full of distress.

The man of upright life is obeyed before he speaks.

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra. The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me you don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step the man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.

The superior man is universally minded and no partisan. The inferior man is a partisan and not universal.

He who wished to secure the good of others, has already secured his own.

Watch their actions, observe their motives, examine wherein they dwell content; won't you know what kind of person they are?

At 15 I set my heart on learning; At 30 I firmly took my stand; At 40 I had no delusions; At 50 I knew the Mandate of Heaven; At 60 my ear was attuned; At 70 I followed my heart's desire without overstepping the boundaries of right.

Look for an occupation that you like, and you will not need to labor for a single day in your life.

Every house guest brings you happiness. Some when they arrive, and some when they are leaving

One who is by nature daring and is suffering from poverty will not long be law-abiding. Indeed, any men, save those that are truly good, if their sufferings are very great, will be likely to rebel.

The Way is not for, but from, man; if we take the Way as something superhuman, beyond man, this is not the real Way.

Never seek illicit wealth.

A gentleman considers justice to be essential in everything. He practices it according to the principles of propriety. He brings it forth in modesty and faithfully completes it. This is indeed a gentleman.

He who kisses girl on hillside is not level

To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.

In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.

Words are the voice of the heart.

The Master said, “The gentleman understands what is right, whereas the petty man understands profit.” (Analects 4.16)

The superior man accords with the course of the Mean. Though he may be all unknown, unregarded by the world, he feels no regret - It is only the sage who is able for this.

Those people who develop the ability to continuously acquire new and better forms of knowledge that they can apply to their work and to their lives will be the movers and shakers in our society for the indefinite future.

Heaven means to be one with God.

The nobler sort of man emphasizes the good qualities in others, and does not accentuate the bad. The inferior does the reverse. . . . The nobler sort of man pays special attention to nine points. He is anxious to see clearly, to hear distinctly, to be kindly in his looks, respectful in his demeanor, conscientious in his speech, earnest in his affairs. When in doubt, he is careful to inquire; when in anger, he thinks of the consequences; when offered an opportunity for gain, he thinks only of his duty.

The Three Armies can be deprived of their commanding officer, but even a common man cannot be deprived of his purpose.

I transmit but do not create. I place my trust in the teachings of antiquity.

When one cultivates to the utmost the principles of his nature, and exercises them on the principle of reciprocity, he is not far from the path.

If you would one day renovate yourself, do so from day to day.

It is the obligation of the ruler to continually renew himself in order to renew the people by his example.

Justice is like the north star, which is fixed, and all the rest revolve about it.

Confucius say... politician is one who shakes your hand before elections and your confidence after.

If a man keeps cherishing his old knowledge so as continually to be acquiring new, he may be a teacher of others.

Study as though you cannot catch up to it, and as though you fear you are going to lose it.

A man living without conflicts, as if he never lives at all.

The great mountain must collapse, the mighty beam must break and the wise man wither like a plant.