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Confucius Quotes
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The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
Confucius
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The noble-minded are calm and steady. Little people are forever fussing and fretting.
Confucius
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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
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Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.
Confucius
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Let a man be stimulated by poetry, established by the rules of propriety, and perfected by music.
Confucius
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There are three things which the superior man guards against. In youth... lust. When he is strong... quarrelsomeness. When he is old... covetousness.
Confucius
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Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.
Confucius
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Without an acquaintance with the rules of propriety, it is impossible for the character to be established.
Confucius
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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
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To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue.... [They are] gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.
Confucius
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A gentleman, in his plans, thinks of the Way; he does not think how he is going to make a living. Even farming sometimes has a shortage; and even learning may incidentally bring a salary. A gentleman is concerned with the progress of the Way; he is not anxious about poverty.
Confucius
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As in the case of making a mound, if, before the very last basketful, I stop, then I shall have stopped. As in the case of leveling the ground, if, though tipping only one basketful, I am going forward, then I shall be making progress.
Confucius
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Sincerity becomes apparent. From being apparent, it becomes manifest. From being manifest, it becomes brilliant. Brilliant, it affects others. Affecting others, they are changed by it. Changed by it, they are transformed. It is only he who is possessed of the most complete sincerity that can exist under heaven, who can transform.
Confucius
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Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know men.
Confucius
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The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest; success only comes later.
Confucius
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In a hamlet of ten households, there are bound to be those who are my equal in doing their best for others and in being trustworthy in what they say, but they are unlikely to be as eager to learn as I am.
Confucius
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The man of virtue makes the difficulty to be overcome his first business, and success only a subsequent consideration.
Confucius
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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
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It is when those who are not strong enough have made some moderate amount of progress that they fail and give up...
Confucius
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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.
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Women and servants are most difficult to deal with. If you are familiar with them, they cease to be humble. If you keep a distance from them, they resent it.
Confucius
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Things that are done, it is needless to speak about... things that are past, it is needless to blame.
Confucius
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To rank the effort above the prize may be called love.
Confucius
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He who learns but does not think, is lost. He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.
Confucius
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Care not for want of place; care for thy readiness to fill one. Care not for being unknown, but seek to be worthy of note.
Confucius
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Quote of the day
Now if the harvest is over, And the world cold, Give me the bonus of laughter, As I lose hold.
John Betjeman
Confucius
Born:
September 28, 551 BC
Died:
479 BC
(aged 72)
Bio:
Confucius was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history.
Known for:
Analects
Book of Rites (200 BC)
The sayings of Confucius
Book of Documents
The ethics of Confucius
Most used words:
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superior
virtue
people
heaven
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virtuous
sincerity
learning
love
propriety
learn
three
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