Confucius - Analects

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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
The silent treasuring up of knowledge; learning without satiety; and instructing others without being wearied: which one of these things belongs to me?

Confucius
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
When a man feels the difficulty of doing, can he be other than cautious and slow in speaking?

Confucius
A workman who wants to do his work well must first prepare his tools.

Confucius
Men of practical knowledge find their gratification among rivers.

Confucius
Who expects to be able to go out of a house except by the door? How is it then that no one follows this Way of ours?

Confucius
In your promises cleave to what is right, And you will be able to fulfill your word.

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

Confucius
Only after Winter comes do we know that the pine and the cypress are the last to fade.

Confucius
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.

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
Heaven, in the production of things, is sure to be bountiful to them, according to their qualities. Hence the tree that is flourishing, it nourishes, while that which is ready to fall, it overthrows.

Confucius
Some may study side by side, and yet be asunder when they come to the logic of things.

Confucius
The man of perfect virtue, wishing to be established himself, seeks also to establish others; wishing to be enlarged himself, he seeks also to enlarge others.

Confucius
In vain I have looked for a single man capable of seeing his own faults and bringing the charge home against himself.

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

Confucius
The failure to cultivate virtue, the failure to examine and analyze what I have learned, the inability to move toward righteousness after being shown the way, the inability to correct my faults-these are the causes of my grief.

Confucius
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
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 wise man delights in water, the Good man delights in mountains. For the wise move; but the Good stay still. The wise are happy; but the good secure.

Confucius
One who is by nature daring and is suffering from poverty will not long be law-abiding. Indeed, any men, save those that are truly good, if their sufferings are very great, will be likely to rebel.

Confucius
Look closely into his aims, observe the means by which he pursues them, discover what brings him content - and can the man's real worth remain hidden from you?

Confucius