Confucius Quotes

236 Sourced Quotes

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

Confucius
The superior man understands righteousness; the inferior man understands profit.

Confucius
It is the way of the superior man to prefer the concealment of his virtue, while it daily becomes more illustrious, and it is the way of the mean man to seek notoriety, while he daily goes more and more to ruin.

Confucius
A superior man may be made to go to the well, but he cannot be made to go down into it. He may be imposed upon, but he cannot be fooled.

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

Confucius
Shall I tell you what knowledge is? It is to know both what one knows and what one does not know.

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

Confucius
It is soft, smooth and shining—like intelligence. Its edges seem sharp but do not cut—like justice. It hangs down to the ground—like humility. When struck, it gives a clear, ringing sound—like music. The strains in it are not hidden and add to its beauty—like truthfulness.' What imagination!

Confucius
When nature exceeds culture, we have the rustic. When culture exceeds nature then we the pedant.

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

Confucius
There are cases in which the blade springs, but the plant does not go on to flower. There are cases where it flowers, but no fruit is subsequently produced.

Confucius
Man is born for uprightness. If a man lose his uprightness, and yet live, his escape from death is the effect of mere good fortune.

Confucius
To rank the effort above the prize may be called love.

Confucius
The superior man, even when he is not moving, has a feeling of reverence, and while he speaks not, he has the feeling of truthfulness.

Confucius
First and foremost, be faithful to your superiors, keep all promises, refuse the friendship of all who are not like you; and if you have made a mistake, do not be afraid of admitting the fact and amending your ways.

Confucius
No state can exist without the confidence of the people.

Confucius
One who will study for three years. Without thought of reward. Would be hard indeed to find.

Confucius
The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.

Confucius
When the multitude detests a man, inquiry is necessary; when the multitude likes a man, inquiry is equally necessary.

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