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Confucius Quotes
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If a man is respectful he will not be treated with insolence. If he is tolerant he will win the multitude. If he is trustworthy in his word his fellow man will entrust him with responsibility. If he is quick he will achieve results. if he is generous he will be good enough to be put in a position over his fellow men.
Confucius
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Just as lavishness leads easily to presumption, so does frugality to meanness. But meanness is a far less serious fault than presumption.
Confucius
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If an urn lacks the characteristics of an urn, how can we call it an urn?
Confucius
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When a nation or family is about to flourish, there are sure to be happy omens; and when it is about to perish, there are sure to be unlucky omens.
Confucius
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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
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Music is the one thing in which there is no use trying to deceive others or make false pretenses.
Confucius
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Learn, as if never overtaking your object, and yet as if apprehensive of losing it.
Confucius
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If I cannot get men who steer a middle course to associate with, I would far rather have the impetuous and hasty. For the impetuous at any rate assert themselves.
Confucius
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The administration of government lies in getting proper men. Such men are to be got by means of the ruler's own character. That character is to be cultivated by his treading in the ways of duty. And the treading those ways of duty is to be cultivated by the cherishing of benevolence.
Confucius
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Sincerity is the end and beginning of things; without sincerity there would be nothing.
Confucius
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The superior man, extensively studying all learning, and keeping himself under the restraint of the rules of propriety, may thus likewise not overstep what is right.
Confucius
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From the Son of Heaven down to the mass of the people, all must consider the cultivation of the person the root of everything besides.
Confucius
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The really faithful lover of learning holds fast to the Good Way till death.
Confucius
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The gentleman desires to be halting in speech but quick in action.
Confucius
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In old days men studied for the sake of self-improvement; nowadays men study in order to impress other people.
Confucius
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If one is guided by profit in one's actions, one will incur much ill will.
Confucius
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The people may be put into the way they should go, though they may not be put into the way of understanding it.
Confucius
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The small man thinks that small acts of goodness are of no benefit, and does not do them; and that small deeds of evil do no harm, and does not refrain from them. Hence, his wickedness becomes so great that it cannot be concealed, and his guilt so great that it cannot be pardoned.
Confucius
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The silent treasuring up of knowledge; learning without satiety; and instructing others without being wearied: which one of these things belongs to me?
Confucius
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Guide them by edicts, keep them in line with punishments, and the common people will stay out of trouble but will have no sense of shame. Guide them by virtue, keep them in line with the rites, and they will, besides having a sense of shame, reform themselves.
Confucius
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When a man feels the difficulty of doing, can he be other than cautious and slow in speaking?
Confucius
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It cannot be when the root is neglected that what springs from it will be well ordered.
Confucius
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A workman who wants to do his work well must first prepare his tools.
Confucius
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If a superior man abandon virtue, how can he fulfil the requirements of that name?
Confucius
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Love makes a spot beautiful: who chooses not to dwell in love, has he got wisdom?
Confucius
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Quote of the day
Autumn burned brightly, a running flame through the mountains, a torch flung to the trees.
Faith Baldwin
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:
man
superior
virtue
people
heaven
find
virtuous
sincerity
learning
love
propriety
learn
three
mind
practice
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