If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.
ConfuciusDo not worry about not holding high position; worry rather about playing your proper role. Worry not that no one knows of you; seek to be worth knowing.
ConfuciusTo govern is to correct. If you set an example by being correct, who would dare to remain incorrect?
ConfuciusThe way of Heaven and Earth may be completely declared in one sentence: They are without any doubleness, and so they produce things in a manner that is unfathomable.
ConfuciusTo be fond of learning is near to wisdom; to practice with vigor is near to benevolence; and to be conscious of shame is near to fortitude.
ConfuciusIn ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations, they first harmonized their families. Wishing to harmonize their families, they first cultivated themselves. Wishing to cultivate themselves, they first rectified their minds. Those who wished to rectify their minds first made their intentions sincere.
ConfuciusThe people may be made to follow a path of action but they may not be made to understand it.
ConfuciusStudy as if you have not reached your goal - hold it as if you were afraid of losing what you have.
ConfuciusFriendship with the upright, with the truthful and with the well informed is beneficial. Friendship with those who flatter, with those who are meek and who compromise with principles, and with those who talk cleverly is harmful.
ConfuciusBecause the newer methods of treatment are good, it does not follow that the old ones were bad: for if our honorable and worshipful ancestors had not recovered from their ailments, you and I would not be here today.
ConfuciusTo practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.
ConfuciusMake faithfulness and truth thy masters: have no friends unlike thyself: be not ashamed to mend thy faults.
ConfuciusI will not be concerned at other men's not knowing me;I will be concerned at my own want of ability.
ConfuciusWhen a man's knowledge is sufficient to attain, and his virtue is not sufficient to enable him to hold, whatever he may have gained, he will lose again.
ConfuciusI used to take on trust a man's deeds after having listened to his words. Now having listened to a man's words I go on to observe his deeds.
ConfuciusA youth is to be regarded with respect. How do we know that his future will not be equal to our present?
ConfuciusI used to listen to what others said, and expect them to act accordingly. But nowadays, I listen to what they say, and then observe what they do.
ConfuciusGreat as heaven and earth are, men still find some things in them with which to be dissatisfied. Thus it is that, were the superior man to speak of his way in all its greatness, nothing in the world would be found able to embrace it, and were he to speak of it in its minuteness, nothing in the world would be found able to split it.
ConfuciusTo prefer it is better than to only know it. To delight in it is better than merely to prefer it.
ConfuciusA blemish may be removed from a diamond by careful polishing, but evil words once spoken cannot be effaced.
ConfuciusLet a man be stimulated by poetry, established by the rules of propriety, and perfected by music.
ConfuciusThey who know the truth are not equal to those who love it, and they who love it are not equal to those who delight in it.
ConfuciusIf a man is respectful he will not be treated with insolence. If he is tolerant he will win the multitude. If he is trustworthy in word his fellow men will entrust him with responsibility. If he is quick he will achieve results.
ConfuciusWhen nature exceeds culture, we have the rustic. When culture exceeds nature, we have the pedant.
ConfuciusVirtue is more to man than either water or fire. I have seen men die from treading on water and fire, but I have never seen a man die from treading the course of virtue.
ConfuciusIf you reflect within yourself and find nothing to be ashamed of, how could you have anxiety or fear.
ConfuciusWisdom, humanity & courage, these three are universal virtues. The way by which they are practiced are one.
ConfuciusThe Master said, The case is like that of someone raising a mound. If he stops working, the fact that it perhaps needed only one more basketful makes no difference; I stay where I am. Whereas even if he has not got beyond leveling the ground, but is still at work, the fact that he has only tilted one basketful of earth makes no difference. I go to help him.
ConfuciusIf the search for riches were sure to be successful, though I should become a groom with a whip in my hand to get them, I will do so. As the search may not be successful, I will follow after that which I love.
ConfuciusWhat Heaven has conferred is called The Nature; an accordance with this nature is called The Path of duty; the regulation of this path is called Instruction. The path may not be left for an instant. If it could be left, it would not be the path.
ConfuciusThere are three degrees of filial piety. The highest is being a credit to our parents, the second is not disgracing them; the lowest is being able simply to support them.
ConfuciusDo not answer the person whose questions are vile. Do not question a person whose answers are vile.
ConfuciusThough Confucius served the Duke of Lu, a Chinese state, he made many enemies with the nobles of the land. His views antagonized the powerful nobles, who wanted the Duke to be a puppet in their hands. Confucius was exiled from the State of Lu for more than two decades. He lived in the countryside, spreading his teachings.
ConfuciusThe silent treasuring up of knowledge; learning without satiety; and instructing others without being wearied: which one of these things belongs to me?
Confucius