Quotes By Confucius

“A gentleman would be ashamed should his deeds not match his words.”

“A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”

“A youth, when at home, should be filial and, abroad, respectful to his elders. He should be earnest and truthful. He should overflow in love to all and cultivate the friendship of the good. When he has time and opportunity, after the performance of these things, he should employ them in polite studies.”

“An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.”

“Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honors depend upon heaven.”

“Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.”

“Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.”

“Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs.”

“He who acts with a constant view to his own advantage will be much murmured against.”

“He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.”

“He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.”

“He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.”

“How to play music may be known. At the commencement of the piece, all the parts should sound together. As it proceeds, they should be in harmony while severally distinct and flowing without break, and thus on to the conclusion.”

“I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge; I am one who is fond of antiquity, and earnest in seeking it there.”

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”

“I want you to be everything that's you, deep at the center of your being.”

“I will not be concerned at other men's not knowing me; I will be concerned at my own want of ability.”

“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.”

“If some years were added to my life, I would give fifty to the study of the Yi, and then I might come to be without great faults.”

“If 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.”

“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.”

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”

“It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get.”

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

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

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”

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

“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.”

“Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.”

“Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.”

“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.”

“Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.”

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.”

“Speak the truth, do not yield to anger; give, if thou art asked for little; by these three steps thou wilt go near the gods.”

“Study the past, if you would divine the future.”

“Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.”

“The book salesman should be honored because he brings to our attention, as a rule, the very books we need most and neglect most.”

“The faults of a superior person are like the sun and moon. They have their faults, and everyone sees them; they change and everyone looks up to them.”

“The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.”

“The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.”

“The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”

“The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.”

“The superior man does not, even for the space of a single meal, act contrary to virtue. In moments of haste, he cleaves to it. In seasons of danger, he cleaves to it.”

“The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability that he has.”

“The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest; success only comes later.”

“The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.”

“The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.”

“They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.”

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

“To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.”

“To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.”

“To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men; and the employment of the people at the proper seasons.”

“To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness.”

“To see what is right and not to do it is cowardice.”

“To see the right and not to do it is want of courage, or of principle.”

“To those whose talents are above mediocrity, the highest subjects may be announced. To those who are below mediocrity, the highest subjects may not be announced.”

“Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.”

“Virtuous people often revenge themselves for the constraints to which they submit by the boredom which they inspire.”

“We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression.”

“What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.”

“When we see persons of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see persons of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.”

“When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself.”

“When you know a thing, to hold that you know it, and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it - this is knowledge.”

“Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.”

“Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts.”