Confucius Quotes

When the perfect order prevails, the world is like a home shared by all. Leaders are capable and virtuous. Everyone loves and respects their own parents and children as well as the parents and children of others. The old are cared for, adults have jobs, children are nourished and educated. There is a means of support for all those who are disabled or find themselves alone in the world. Everyone has an appropriate role to play in the family and society. Devotion to public duty leaves no place for idleness. Scheming for ill gain is unknown. Sharing displaces selfishness and materialism.

He who fails to prepare, prepares to fail

In archery we have something like the way of the superior man. When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns round and seeks for the cause of his failure in himself.

When the wind blows,the grass bends.

The superior man has a dignified ease without pride. The mean man has pride without a dignified ease.

Heaven, in the production of things, is sure to be bountiful to them, according to their qualities. Hence the tree that is flourishing, it nourishes, while that which is ready to fall, it overthrows.

For one word a man is often deemed to be wise, and for one word he is often deemed to be foolish. We should be careful indeed what we say.

There are those men who say to repay evil with kindness. But I say, how then are we to repay kindness? Repay kindness with kindness, but repay evil with justice.

Every journey starts with a single step.

But if you do not have the Tao yourself, what business have you spending your time in vain efforts to bring corrupt politicians into the right path?

If doing what ought to be done be made the first business and success a secondary consideration--is not this the way to exalt virtue?

True knowledge is when one knows the limitations of one's knowledge.

Those who break down the dikes will themselves be drowned in the inundation.

Look at the means which a man employs, consider his motives, observe his pleasures. A man simply cannot conceal himself!

As in the case of making a mound, if, before the very last basketful, I stop, then I shall have stopped. As in the case of leveling the ground, if, though tipping only one basketful, I am going forward, then I shall be making progress.

One who has accumulated virtue will certainly also possess eloquence; but he who has eloquence doe not necessarily possess virtue.

A gentleman can withstand hardships; it is only the small man who, when submitted to them, is swept off his feet.

What you dislike in your superiors, avoid doing to your inferiors. What you dislike in your inferiors, avoid doing when working for your superiors. What you hate in those who are in front of you, do not do to those behind you.

In a district of ten families, there must be someone as honorable and sincere as I, but none as fond of learning.

Things being investigated, knowledge became complete. Their knowledge being complete, their thoughts were sincere. Their thoughts being sincere, their hearts were then rectified. Their hearts being rectified, their persons were cultivated. Their persons being cultivated, their families were regulated. Their families being regulated, their States were rightly governed. Their States being rightly governed, the whole kingdom was made tranquil and happy.

The man of perfect virtue, wishing to be established himself, seeks also to establish others; wishing to be enlarged himself, he seeks also to enlarge others.

It is the law of nature that woman should be held under the dominance of man.

The highest kind of man is the one who does before talking and practices what he professes.

Whatever heaven ordains is best.

By gaining the people, the kingdom is gained; by losing the people, the kingdom is lost.

The higher type of man clings to virtue, the lower type of man clings to material comfort. The higher type of man cherishes justice, the lower type of man cherishes the hope of favors to be received.

Never overlook wallflower at dance; may be dandelion in grass.

When you meet someone better than yourself, turn your thoughts to becoming his equal. When you meet someone not as good as you are, look within and examine your own self.

A good man will certainly also possess courage; but a brave man is not necessarily good.

I could see peace instead of this.

A gentleman considers what is right; the vulgar consider what will pay.

To understand yourself is the key to wisdom.

He who remembers from day to day what he has yet to learn, and from month to month what he has learned already, may be said to have a love of learning.

The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.

Learning, undigested by thought, is labor lost.

Do unto others as you wish others do unto you.

When music and courtesy are better understood and appreciated, there will be no war.

The superior man is quiet and calm, waiting for the appointments of heaven, while the mean man walks in dangerous paths, looking for lucky occurrences.

Old age, believe me, is a good and pleasant thing. It is true you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator.

If I understand Change, I shall make no great mistake in Life

If the people be led by laws, and uniformity sought to be given them by punishments, they will try to avoid the punishment, but have no sense of shame.

The archer who misses his mark does not blame the target. He stops, corrects himself and shoots again.

The more people know, the more they forgive.

If you know, say you know. If you don't know, say you don't know.

In teaching there should be no distinction of classes.

At seventy, I could follow the dictates of my own heart; for what I desired no longer overstepped the boundaries of right.

There is nothing impossible in all the world except that the heart of man is wanting in resolution.

It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.