Confucius Quotes

236 Sourced Quotes

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

Confucius
The superior man has a dignified ease without pride. The mean man has pride without a dignified ease.

Confucius
Without an acquaintance with the rules of propriety, it is impossible for the character to be established.

Confucius
The superior man is distressed by his want of ability.

Confucius
Instead of being concerned that you have no office, be concerned to think how you may fit yourself for office. Instead of being concerned that you are not known, seek to be worthy of being known.

Confucius
The commander of three armies may be taken away but the will of even a common man may not be taken away from him.

Confucius
Virtue is more to man than either water or fire. I have seen men die from treading on water and fire, but I have never seen a man die from treading the course of virtue.

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
To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue.... [They are] gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.

Confucius
Be versed in ancient lore, and familiarize yourself with the modern; then may you become teachers.

Confucius
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
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
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
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
The parents age must be remembered, both for joy and anxiety.

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

Confucius
Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.

Confucius
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
Between friends, frequent reproofs make the friendship distant.

Confucius
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