Confucius Quotes

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

“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.”

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

“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.”

“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.”

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

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

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

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

“The cautious seldom err.”

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

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

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

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

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

“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.”

“Have no friends not equal to yourself.”

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

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

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

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

“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.”