Confucius’s Quotes

Confucius

Confucius was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history. The philosophy of Confucius, also known as Confucianism, emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity.

Wikipedia Quotes

159 Quotes

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

— Confucius

"Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue"

— Confucius

"Silence is a true friend who never betrays."

— Confucius

"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."

— Confucius

"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand."

— Confucius

"Learning without reflection is a waste, reflection without learning is dangerous."

— Confucius

"The Superior Man is aware of Righteousness, the inferior man is aware of advantage."

— Confucius

"I will not be concerned at other men is not knowing me;I will be concerned at my own want of ability."

— Confucius

"Study the past, if you would divine the future."

— Confucius

"Everything has beauty, but not everyone can see."

— Confucius

"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it."

— Confucius

"Being in humaneness is good. If we select other goodness and thus are far apart from humaneness, how can we be the wise?"

— Confucius

"Silence is the true friend that never betrays."

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

"When you see a man of worth, think of how you may emulate him. When you see one who is unworthy, examine yourself."

— Confucius

"To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous."

— Confucius

"I am not bothered by the fact that I am unknown. I am bothered when I do not know others."

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart."

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

"Reviewing what you have learned and learning anew, you are fit to be a teacher."

— Confucius

"The more you know yourself, the more you forgive yourself."

— Confucius

"To be wrong is nothing unless you continue to remember it."

— Confucius

"The cautious seldom err."

— Confucius

"What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others."

— Confucius

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."

— Confucius

"When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps."

— Confucius

"The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions."

— Confucius

"When you see a good person, think of becoming like him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points."

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

"Ability will never catch up with the demand for it."

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

"If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?"

— Confucius

"Sincerity is the way of Heaven. The attainment of sincerity is the way of men."

— Confucius

"To give ones self earnestly to the duties due to men, and, while respecting spiritual beings, to keep aloof from them, may be called wisdom."

— Confucius

"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."

— Confucius

"Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart."

— Confucius

"He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions."

— Confucius

"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones."

— Confucius

"If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake."

— Confucius

"Study the past if you would define the future."

— Confucius

"The funniest people are the saddest ones"

— Confucius

"Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves."

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

"Respect yourself and others will respect you."

— Confucius

"The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life."

— Confucius

"When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points."

— Confucius

"Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others."

— Confucius

"You cannot open a book without learning something."

— Confucius

"What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others."

— Confucius

"The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat."

— Confucius

"Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without."

— Confucius

"We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one."

— Confucius

"Give a bowl of rice to a man and you will feed him for a day. Teach him how to grow his own rice and you will save his life."

— Confucius

"The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials."

— Confucius

"The way out is through the door. Why is it that no one will use this method?"

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

"The man of wisdom is never of two minds"

— Confucius

"Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change."

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

"The more you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you will go."

— Confucius

"The power of imagination makes us infinite."

— Confucius

"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's impossible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible"

— Confucius

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart."

— Confucius

"Study without reflection is a waste of time; reflection without study is dangerous."

— Confucius

"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it."

— Confucius

"When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps."

— Confucius

"A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do we know that his future will not be equal to our present?"

— Confucius

"One joy dispels a hundred cares."

— Confucius

"Good people strengthen themselves ceaselessly."

— Confucius

"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."

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

"I want you to be everything that’s you, deep at the center of your being."

— Confucius

"To love a thing means wanting it to live."

— Confucius

"The way you cut your meat reflects the way you live."

— Confucius

"When the multitude detests a man, inquiry is necessary; when the multitude likes a man, inquiry is equally necessary."

— Confucius

"If you try to do too much, you will not achieve anything."

— Confucius

"And remember, no matter where you go, there you are."

— Confucius

"Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous."

— Confucius

"A lion chased me up a tree, and I greatly enjoyed the view from the top."

— Confucius

"To be wealthy and honored in an unjust society is a disgrace."

— Confucius

"Have no friends not equal to yourself."

— Confucius

"Study the past, if you would divine the future."

— Confucius

"Roads were made for journeys, not destinations."

— Confucius

"By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart."

— Confucius

"Can there be a love which does not make demands on its object?"

— Confucius

"To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short."

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

"The people may be made to follow a path of action but they may not be made to understand it."

— Confucius

"True goodness springs from a man's own heart. All men are born good."

— Confucius

"Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly."

— Confucius

"The parents' age must be remembered, both for joy and anxiety."

— Confucius

"You can successfully force people to follow a certain course, but you cannot force them to understand it."

— Confucius

"10. Three things cannot long be hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth."

— Confucius

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."

— Confucius

"The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life."

— Confucius

"The object of the superior man is truth."

— Confucius

"He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior."

— Confucius

"What you do not wish upon yourself, extend not to others."

— Confucius

"Those who cannot forgive others break the bridge over which they themselves must pass."

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

"A man of wisdom delights in water."

— Confucius

"It is not possible for one to teach others who cannot teach his own family."

— Confucius

"Do not let a leader lead you on a bad path."

— Confucius

"Learn as if you were not reaching your goal and as though you were scared of missing it."

— Confucius

"If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?"

— Confucius

"When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points."

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

"The journey with a 1000 miles begins with one step."

— Confucius

"To understand yourself is the key to wisdom."

— Confucius

"Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without."

— Confucius

"Ah, music, sacred tongue of God! I hear thee calling and I come."

— Confucius

"Sincerity is the way of heaven."

— Confucius

"Learn as though you would never be able to master it; hold it as though you would be in fear of losing it."

— Confucius

"You are what you think."

— Confucius

"First there must be order and harmony within your own mind. Then this order will spread to your family, then to the community, and finally to your entire kingdom. Only then can you have peace and harmony."

— Confucius

"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."

— Confucius

"When anger rises, think of the consequences."

— Confucius

"If a man in the morning hear the right way, he may die in the evening without regret."

— Confucius

"A lack of patience in trifling matters might lead to the disruption of great project."

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

"They must often change who would remain constant in happiness and wisdom."

— Confucius

"Straight-forwardness, without the rules of propriety, becomes rudeness."

— Confucius

"Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon or star."

— Confucius

"Knowing something is not as good as liking it. Liking something is not as good as rejoicing in it."

— Confucius

"Love is like a spice. It can sweeten your life - however, it can spoil it, too."

— Confucius

"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."

— Confucius

"Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes."

— Confucius

"The true gentleman does not preach what he practices till he has practiced what he preaches."

— Confucius

"The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools."

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

"It is man that makes truth great, not truth that makes man great."

— Confucius

"How transcendent is the virtue of the middle conduct! Rare for a long time has been its practice among the people."

— Confucius

"I slept and dreamt life is beauty, I woke and found life is duty."

— Confucius

"Silence is a true friend who never betrays."

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

"No matter how busy you make think you are you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance."

— Confucius

"Faithfulness and sincerity are the highest things."

— Confucius

"Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses."

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

"To lead uninstructed people to war is to throw them away."

— Confucius

"There 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."

— Confucius

"Learn avidly. Question it repeatedly. Analyze it carefully. Then put what you have learned into practice intelligently."

— Confucius

"I'd rather die for speaking out, than to live and be silent."

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

"Base yourself in loyalty and trust. Don't be a companion with those who are not your moral equal. When you make a mistake, don't hesitate to correct it."

— Confucius

"I have not seen a person who loved virtue, or one who hated what was not virtuous. He who loved virtue would esteem nothing above it."

— Confucius

"To be truly happy and contented, you must let go of what it means to be happy or content."

— Confucius

"Anyone can find the switch after the lights are on."

— Confucius

"There is nothing more visible than what is secret, and nothing more manifest than what is minute."

— Confucius

"Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change."

— Confucius

"Sincerity is that whereby self-completion is effected, and its way is that by which man must direct himself."