All Quotes by Confucius
“He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.”
“Look at the means which a man employs, consider his motives, observe his pleasures. A man simply cannot conceal himself!”
“The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest; success only comes later.”
“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.”
“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 book salesman should be honored because he brings to our attention, as a rule, the very books we need most and neglect most.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?”
“The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.”
“If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?”
“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.”
“Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honors depend upon heaven.”
“If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.”
“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.”
“He who acts with a constant view to his own advantage will be much murmured against.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs.”
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
“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 we don't know life, how can we know death?”
“We should keep the dead before our eyes, and honor them as though still living”
“The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.”
“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.”
“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
“I will not be concerned at other men's not knowing me; I will be concerned at my own want of ability.”
“Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.”
“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.”
“There are three methods to gaining wisdom. The first is reflection, which is the highest. The second is limitation, which is the easiest. The third is experience, which is the bitterest.”
“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.”
“If names be not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth of things.”
“It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.”
“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.”
“The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.”
“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.”
“He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.”
“He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.”
“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.”
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
“If names be not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth of things. If language be not in accordance with the truth of things, affairs cannot be carried on to success. When affairs cannot be carried on to success, proprieties and music do not flourish.”
“To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Heaven means to be one with God.”
“The cautious seldom err.”
“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.”
“They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.”
“Study the past, if you would divine the future.”
“The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.”
“When anger rises, think of the consequences.”
“Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?”
“Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honors depend upon heaven.”
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”
“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 strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.”
“He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.”
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
“To rank the effort above the prize may be called love.”
“Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.”
“I do not open up the truth to one who is not eager to get knowledge, nor help out any one who is not anxious to explain himself. When I have presented one corner of a subject to any one, and he cannot from it learn the other three, I do not repeat my lesson.”
“Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.”
“The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.”
“There is the love of knowing without the love of learning; the beclouding here leads to dissipation of mind.”
“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”
“Of all people, girls and servants are the most difficult to behave to. If you are familiar with them, they lose their humility. If you maintain a reserve towards them, they are discontented.”
“A man living without conflicts, as if he never lives at all.”
“A scholar who loves comfort is not worthy of the name.”
“The man of virtue makes the difficulty to be overcome his first business, and success only a subsequent consideration.”
“When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.”
“The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.”
“Guide the people by law, subdue them by punishment; they may shun crime, but will be void of shame. Guide them by example, subdue them by courtesy; they will learn shame, and come to be good.”
“It is soft, smooth and shining—like intelligence. Its edges seem sharp but do not cut—like justice. It hangs down to the ground—like humility. When struck, it gives a clear, ringing sound—like music. The strains in it are not hidden and add to its beauty—like truthfulness.’ What imagination!”
“What 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. On this account, the superior man does not wait till he sees things, to be cautious, nor till he hears things, to be apprehensive.”
“Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.”
“There is nothing more visible than what is secret, and nothing more manifest than what is minute. Therefore the superior man is watchful over himself, when he is alone.”
“Let the states of equilibrium and harmony exist in perfection, and a happy order will prevail throughout heaven and earth, and all things will be nourished and flourish.”
“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.”
“Perfect is the virtue which is according to the Mean! Rare have they long been among the people, who could practice it!”
“I know how it is that the path of the Mean is not walked in — The knowing go beyond it, and the stupid do not come up to it. I know how it is that the path of the Mean is not understood — The men of talents and virtue go beyond it, and the worthless do not come up to it.”
“There is no body but eats and drinks. But they are few who can distinguish flavors.”
“They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.”
“Men all say, "We are wise"; but being driven forward and taken in a net, a trap, or a pitfall, they know not how to escape. Men all say, "We are wise"; but happening to choose the course of the Mean, they are not able to keep it for a round month.”
“The kingdom, its states, and its families, may be perfectly ruled; dignities and emoluments may be declined; naked weapons may be trampled under the feet; but the course of the Mean cannot be attained to.”
“It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.”
“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.”
“He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.”
“The way of the superior man may be found, in its simple elements, in the intercourse of common men and women; but in its utmost reaches, it shines brightly through Heaven and Earth.”
“They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.”
“The Path is not far from man. When men try to pursue a course, which is far from the common indications of consciousness, this course cannot be considered The Path.”
“The superior man governs men, according to their nature, with what is proper to them, and as soon as they change what is wrong, he stops.”
“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. What you do not like when done to yourself, do not do to others.”
“Earnest in practicing the ordinary virtues, and careful in speaking about them, if, in his practice, he has anything defective, the superior man dares not but exert himself; and if, in his words, he has any excess, he dares not allow himself such license. Thus his words have respect to his actions, and his actions have respect to his words; is it not just an entire sincerity which marks the superior man?”
“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.”
“The way of the superior man may be compared to what takes place in traveling, when to go to a distance we must first traverse the space that is near, and in ascending a height, when we must begin from the lower ground.”
“How abundantly do spiritual beings display the powers that belong to them! We look for them, but do not see them; we listen to, but do not hear them; yet they enter into all things, and there is nothing without them.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Benevolence is the characteristic element of humanity.”
“To be fond of learning is to be near to knowledge. To practice with vigor is to be near to magnanimity. To possess the feeling of shame is to be near to energy.”
“By the ruler's cultivation of his own character, the duties of universal obligation are set forth. By honoring men of virtue and talents, he is preserved from errors of judgment.”
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
“In all things success depends on previous preparation, and without such previous preparation there is sure to be failure. If what is to be spoken be previously determined, there will be no stumbling. If affairs be previously determined, there will be no difficulty with them. If one's actions have been previously determined, there will be no sorrow in connection with them. If principles of conduct have been previously determined, the practice of them will be inexhaustible.”
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
“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.”
“When we have intelligence resulting from sincerity, this condition is to be ascribed to nature; when we have sincerity resulting from intelligence, this condition is to be ascribed to instruction. But given the sincerity, and there shall be the intelligence; given the intelligence, and there shall be the sincerity.”
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”
“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
“Sincerity becomes apparent. From being apparent, it becomes manifest. From being manifest, it becomes brilliant. Brilliant, it affects others. Affecting others, they are changed by it. Changed by it, they are transformed. It is only he who is possessed of the most complete sincerity that can exist under heaven, who can transform.”
“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”
“It is characteristic of the most entire sincerity to be able to foreknow. When a nation or family is about to flourish, there are sure to be happy omens; and when it is about to perish, there are sure to be unlucky omens.”
“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.”
“Sincerity is that whereby self-completion is effected, and its way is that by which man must direct himself.”
“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.”
“Sincerity is the end and beginning of things; without sincerity there would be nothing. On this account, the superior man regards the attainment of sincerity as the most excellent thing.”
“When anger rises, think of the consequences.”
“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.”
“The 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.”
“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.”
“No lake so still but it has its wave.”
“Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.”
“How great is the path proper to the Sage! Like overflowing water, it sends forth and nourishes all things, and rises up to the height of heaven. All-complete is its greatness! It embraces the three hundred rules of ceremony, and the three thousand rules of demeanor. It waits for the proper man, and then it is trodden. Hence it is said, "Only by perfect virtue can the perfect path, in all its courses, be made a fact."”
“When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”
“Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.”
“To no one but the Son of Heaven does it belong to order ceremonies, to fix the measures, and to determine the written characters.”
“Silence is a true friend who never betrays.”
“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.”
“What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.”
“The superior man examines his heart, that there may be nothing wrong there, and that he may have no cause for dissatisfaction with himself. That wherein the superior man cannot be equaled is simply this — his work which other men cannot see.”
“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.”
“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.”
“The superior man, even when he is not moving, has a feeling of reverence, and while he speaks not, he has the feeling of truthfulness.”
“Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.”
“It is said in the Book of Poetry, "In silence is the offering presented, and the spirit approached to; there is not the slightest contention." Therefore the superior man does not use rewards, and the people are stimulated to virtue. He does not show anger, and the people are awed more than by hatchets and battle-axes.”
“I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand.”
“Among the appliances to transform the people, sound and appearances are but trivial influences.”
“The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”
“What the great learning teaches, is to illustrate illustrious virtue; to renovate the people; and to rest in the highest excellence. The point where to rest being known, the object of pursuit is then determined; and, that being determined, a calm unperturbedness may be attained to. To that calmness there will succeed a tranquil repose. In that repose there may be careful deliberation, and that deliberation will be followed by the attainment of the desired end.”
“The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.”
“Things have their root and their branches. Affairs have their end and their beginning. To know what is first and what is last will lead near to what is taught in the Great Learning.”
“Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.”
“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.”
“I want you to be everything that's you, deep at the center of your being.”
“It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.”
“The cautious seldom err.”
“To see the right and not to do it is cowardice.”
“A gentleman would be ashamed should his deeds not match his words.”
“You cannot open a book without learning something.”
“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?”
“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.”
“To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.”
“Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.”
“The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.”
“Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.”
“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
“He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.”
“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”
“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.”
“To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.”
“You cannot open a book without learning something.”
“Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.”
“Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.”
“Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.”
“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.”
“Heaven means to be one with God.”
“Study the past, if you would divine the future.”
“Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.”
“We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression.”
“To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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 we don't know life, how can we know death?”
“A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”
“An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.”
“The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.”
“To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.”
“To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness.”
“To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage, or of principle.”
“In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.”
“Virtuous people often revenge themselves for the constraints to which they submit by the boredom which they inspire.”
“Study the past, if you would divine the future.”
“Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.”
“The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.”
“There are three methods to gaining wisdom. The first is reflection, which is the highest. The second is limitation, which is the easiest. The third is experience, which is the bitterest.”
“Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.”
“The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.”
“The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.”
“Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.”
“The Man who says he can, and the man who says he can not.. Are both correct”
“They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.”
“The object of the superior man is truth.”
“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.”
“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.”
“An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.”
“The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”
“When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself.”
“Ability will never catch up with the demand for it.”
“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.”
“I will not be concerned at other men's not knowing me; I will be concerned at my own want of ability.”
“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.”