Confucius Quotes

236 Sourced Quotes

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
Boldness, without the rules of propriety, becomes insubordination.

Confucius
The way of the superior man is threefold, but I have not been able to attain it. The man of wisdom has no perplexities; the man of humanity has no worry; the man of courage has no fear.

Confucius
Let a man be stimulated by poetry, established by the rules of propriety, and perfected by music.

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

Confucius
I used to take on trust a man's deeds after having listened to his words. Now having listened to a man's words I go on to observe his deeds.

Confucius
The noble-minded are calm and steady. Little people are forever fussing and fretting.

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

Confucius
When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.

Confucius
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.

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
Does Heaven say anything? The four seasons run their course and all things are produced. Does Heaven say anything?

Confucius
When you see a good man, try to emulate his example, and when you see a bad man, search yourself for his faults.

Confucius
Only by perfect virtue can the perfect path, in all its courses, be made a fact.

Confucius
Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.

Confucius
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.

Confucius
Just as lavishness leads easily to presumption, so does frugality to meanness. But meanness is a far less serious fault than presumption.

Confucius
If a man is respectful he will not be treated with insolence. If he is tolerant he will win the multitude. If he is trustworthy in his word his fellow man will entrust him with responsibility. If he is quick he will achieve results. if he is generous he will be good enough to be put in a position over his fellow men.

Confucius
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.

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

Confucius
The superior man... does not set his mind either for anything, or against anything; what is right he will follow.

Confucius
That a man lives is because he is straight. That a man who dupes others survives is because he has been fortunate enough to be spared.

Confucius
At fifteen my mind was set on learning. At thirty my character had been formed. At forty I had no more perplexities. At fifty I knew the Mandate of Heaven. At sixty I was at ease with whatever I heard. At seventy I could follow my heart's desire without transgressing moral principles.

Confucius
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.

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
The good man does not grieve
that other people do not recognize his merits.
His only anxiety is lest he should fail to recognize theirs.

Confucius
When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.

Confucius
Is it not a pleasure to learn and to repeat or practice from time to time what has been learned? Is it not delightful to have friends coming from afar? Is one not a superior man if he does not feel hurt even though he does not feel recognized?

Confucius
The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does not forget that disorder may come. Thus his person is not endangered, and his States and all their clans are preserved.

Confucius
Grieve not that men do not know you;
grieve that you do not know men.

Confucius