Confucius Quotes

236 Sourced Quotes

Boldness, without the rules of propriety, becomes insubordination.

Confucius
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.

Confucius
Ceremonies are the first thing to be attended to in the practice of government.

Confucius
You do not understand even life. How can you understand death?

Confucius
The man of wisdom delights in water; the man of humanity delights in mountains. The man of wisdom is active; the man of humanity is tranquil. The man of wisdom enjoys happiness; the man of humanity enjoys long life.

Confucius
One who is by nature daring and is suffering from poverty will not long be law-abiding. Indeed, any men, save those that are truly good, if their sufferings are very great, will be likely to rebel.

Confucius
If the search for riches were sure to be successful, though I should become a groom with a whip in my hand to get them, I will do so. As the search may not be successful, I will follow after that which I love.

Confucius
The commander of the forces of a large State may be carried off, but the will of even a common man cannot be taken from him.

Confucius
While the gentleman cherishes benign rule, the small man cherishes his native land. While the gentleman cherishes a respect for the law, the small man cherishes generous treatment.

Confucius
When a man comes to me, I accept him at his best, not at his worst. Why make so much ado? When a man washes his hands before paying a visit, and you receive him in that clean state, you do not thereby stand surety for his always having been clean in the past.

Confucius
A workman who wants to do his work well must first prepare his tools.

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

Confucius
It is only the very wisest and the very stupidest who cannot change.

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

Confucius
A man should demand much from himself, but little from others. When you meet a man of worth, think how you may attain to his excellence. When you meet an unworthy one, then look within and examine yourself.

Confucius
A country of a thousand war-chariots cannot be administered unless the ruler attends strictly to business, punctually observes his promises, is economical in expenditure, loves the people, and uses the labor of the peasantry only at the proper times of year.

Confucius
If a man withdraws his mind from the love of beauty, and applies it as sincerely to the love of the virtuous; if, in serving his parents, he can exert his utmost strength; if, in serving his prince, he can devote his life; if, in his intercourse with his friends, his words are sincere — although men say that he has not learned, I will certainly say that he has.

Confucius
The path may not be left for an instant. If it could be left, it would not be the path.

Confucius
Great as heaven and earth are, men still find some things in them with which to be dissatisfied. Thus it is that, were the superior man to speak of his way in all its greatness, nothing in the world would be found able to embrace it, and were he to speak of it in its minuteness, nothing in the world would be found able to split it.

Confucius
He who requires much from himself and little from others, will keep himself from being the object of resentment.

Confucius
If we are not yet able to serve man, how can we serve spiritual beings?…If we do not yet know about life how can we know about death?

Confucius
I transmit but do not create. I believe in and love the ancients.

Confucius
A youth, when at home, should be filial, and, abroad, respectful to his elders.

Confucius
Be strict with yourself but least reproachful of others and complaint is kept afar.

Confucius