Confucius Quotes

236 Sourced Quotes

[The superior man] acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his actions.

Confucius
Man is born with uprightness. If one loses it he will be lucky if he escapes with his life.

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
Learn as though you would never be able to master it; hold it as though you would be in fear of losing it.

Confucius
Therefore the superior man is watchful over himself, when he is alone.

Confucius
A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.

Confucius
It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.

Confucius
If one learns from others, but does not think, one will be bewildered. If, on the other hand, one thinks but does not learn from others, one will be in peril.

Confucius
Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.

Confucius
The superior man extensively studies literature and restrains himself with the rules of propriety. Thus he will not violate the Way.

Confucius
I have not seen a person who loved virtue, or one who hated what was not virtuous. He who loved virtue would esteem nothing above it.

Confucius
To be fond of learning is near to wisdom; to practice with vigor is near to benevolence; and to be conscious of shame is near to fortitude.

Confucius
A gentleman can withstand hardships; it is only the small man who, when submitted to them, is swept off his feet.

Confucius
The superior man does what is proper to the station in which he is; he does not desire to go beyond this. In a position of wealth and honor, he does what is proper to a position of wealth and honor. In a poor and low position, he does what is proper to a poor and low position.

Confucius
What the great learning teaches, is to illustrate illustrious virtue; to renovate the people; and to rest in the highest excellence.

Confucius
Without recognizing the ordinances of Heaven, it is impossible to be a superior man.

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
Set your will on the Way. Have a firm grasp on virtue. Rely on humanity. Find recreation in the arts.

Confucius
What the superior man seeks is in himself. What the mean man seeks is in others.

Confucius
At fifteen, my mind was bent on learning.
At thirty, I stood firm.
At forty, I had no doubts.
At fifty, I knew the decrees of Heaven.
At sixty, my ear was receptive to truth.
At seventy, I could follow my heart's desires without sin.

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

Confucius
The people may be made to follow a path of action, but they may not be made to understand it.

Confucius
They must often change who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.

Confucius
The Three Armies can be deprived of their commanding officer, but even a common man cannot be deprived of his purpose.

Confucius
If a man sets his heart on benevolence he will be free from evil.

Confucius
The requisites of government are that there be sufficiency of food, sufficiency of military equipment, and the confidence of the people in their ruler.

Confucius
I have yet to meet a man as fond of high moral conduct as he is of outward appearances.

Confucius
Women and people of low birth are very hard to deal with. If you are friendly to them, they get out of hand, and if you keep your distance, they resent it.

Confucius
To be poor without murmuring is difficult. To be rich without being proud is easy.

Confucius
To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.

Confucius