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Earnest in practicing the ordinary virtues, and careful in speaking about them, if, in his practice, he has anything defective, the superior man dares not but exert himself; and if, in his words, he has any excess, he dares not allow himself such license.
Confucius
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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.
Confucius
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How abundantly do spiritual beings display the powers that belong to them! We look for them, but do not see them; we listen to, but do not hear them; yet they enter into all things, and there is nothing without them.
Confucius
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I daily examine myself on three points: In planning for others, have I failed in conscientiousness? In intercourse with friends, have I been insincere? And have I failed to practice what I have been taught?
Confucius
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The parents age must be remembered, both for joy and anxiety.
Confucius
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Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.
Confucius
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Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.
Confucius
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The superior man cannot be known in little matters, but he may be entrusted with great concerns. The small man may not be entrusted with great concerns, but he may be known in little matters.
Confucius
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Between friends, frequent reproofs make the friendship distant.
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The Master said, If out of the three hundred songs I had to take one phrase to cover all my teachings, I would say 'Let there be no evil in your thoughts.'
Confucius
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In carrying on your government, why should you use killing [the unprincipled for the good of the unprincipled] at all? Let your evinced desires be for what is good, and the people will be good. The relation between superiors and inferiors is like that between the wind and the grass. The grass must bend when the wind blows across it.
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The young should be dutiful at home, modest abroad, careful and true, overflowing in kindness for all, but in brotherhood with love. And if they have strength to spare they should spend it on the arts.
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If I am virtuous and worthy, for whom should I not maintain a proper concern?
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The gentleman calls attention to the good points in others; he does not call attention to their defects. The small man does just the reverse of this.
Confucius
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If a man take no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.
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Only by perfect virtue can the perfect path, in all its courses, be made a fact.
Confucius
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It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.
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They must often change who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.
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The really faithful lover of learning holds fast to the Good Way till death.
Confucius
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Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.
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Is any one able for one day to apply his strength to virtue? I have not seen the case in which his strength would be sufficient.
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The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest; success only comes later.
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Sincerity is the end and beginning of things; without sincerity there would be nothing.
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Everyone calls his son his son, whether he has talents or has not talents.
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The requisites of government are that there be sufficiency of food, sufficiency of military equipment, and the confidence of the people in their ruler.
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Quote of the day
I am the slave of my baptism. Parents, you have caused my misfortune, and you have caused your own.
Arthur Rimbaud
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
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virtue
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people
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heaven
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find
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virtuous
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sincerity
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learning
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love
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propriety
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learn
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three
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mind
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practice
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