Confucius Quotes

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

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

“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”

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

“Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.”

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

“At fifteen my heart was set on learning; at thirty I stood firm; at forty I had no more doubts; at fifty I knew the mandate of heaven; at sixty my ear was obedient; at seventy I could follow my heart’s desire without transgressing the norm.”

“Things that are done, it is needless to speak about; things that have had their course, it is needless to remonstrate about; things that are past, it is needless to blame.”

“When anger rises, think of the consequences.”

“He who wishes to secure the good of others has already secured his own.”

“They 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.”

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

“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.”

“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.”

“A man who has committed a mistake and doesn't correct it is committing another mistake.”

“To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.”

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

“With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow - I have still joy in the midst of these things. Riches and honors acquired by unrighteousness are to me as a floating cloud.”

“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.”

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

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

“The object of the superior man is truth.”

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

“Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue.”

“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 thinks only of virtue - the common man thinks only of comfort.”

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

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

“The man who in view of gain thinks of righteousness; who in the view of danger is prepared to give up his life; and who does not forget an old agreement however far back it extends - such a man may be reckoned a complete man.”

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

“The superior man, in the world, does not set his mind either for anything, or against anything; what is right he will follow.”

“Do not worry if others do not understand you. Instead worry if you do not understand others.”

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

“When the Superior Man eats he does not try to stuff himself; at rest he does not seek perfect comfort; he is diligent in his work and careful in speech. He avails himself to people of the Tao and thereby corrects himself. This is the kind of person of whom you can say, ‘he loves learning.’”

“The superior man is aware of righteousness, the inferior man is aware of advantage.”

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

“Have no friends not equal to yourself.”

“The determined scholar and the man of virtue will not seek to live at the expense of injuring their virtue. They will even sacrifice their lives to preserve their virtue complete.”

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

“The scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.”

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

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

“To see what is right and not do it is a lack of courage.”

“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.”

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

“There are three things which the superior man guards against. In youth, when the physical powers are not yet settled, he guards against lust. When he is strong and the physical powers are full of vigor, he guards against quarrelsomeness. When he is old, and the animal powers are decayed, he guards against covetousness.”

“When 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.”

“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.”

“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.”

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

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

“If a craftsman wants to do good work, he must first sharpen his tools.”

“Is virtue a thing remote? I wish to be virtuous, and lo! Virtue is at hand.”

“A great man is hard on himself; a small man is hard on others.”

“The cautious seldom err.”

“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.”

“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.”

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

“Do not wish for quick results, nor look for small advantages. If you seek quick results, you will not reach the ultimate goal. If you are led astray by small advantages, you will never accomplish great things.”

“To know what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice.”

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

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

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

“If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.”

“Respect yourself and others will respect you.”

“Men’s natures are alike. It’s their habits that separate them.”

“Leave the table while you still feel you could eat a little more.”

“If we don’t know life, how can we know death?”

“The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come.”

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