Confucius Quotes (160 Quotes)


    People with virtue must speak out People who speak are not all virtuous.

    To know, is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge.

    It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get.

    With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bent arm for a pillow -- I have still joy in the midst of all these things.

    Heaven means to be one with God.


    Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.

    Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.

    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, see to the (be?) worthy of being known.

    If you look into your own heart, you find nothing wrong there, what is there to fear

    Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.

    Have no friends not equal to yourself.

    Learning without thought is labor lost and thought without learning is perilous.

    The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest; success only comes later.

    When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.

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

    See what a man does.Mark his motives.Examine in which things he rests.How can a man conceal his characterHow can a man conceal his character

    Chi Wen Tzu always thought three times before taking action. Twice would have been quite enough.

    Boldness, without the rules of propriety, becomes insubordination.

    The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.

    The man of upright life is obeyed before he speaks

    Ignorance is the night of mind, a night without moon or star.

    What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.

    place where man laughs, sings, picks flowers, chases butterflies and pets birds, makes love with maidens, and plays with children. Here he spontaneously reveals his nature, the base as well as the noble. Here also he buries his sorrows and difficulties and cherishes his ideals and hopes. It is in the garden that men discover themselves. Indeed one discovers not only his real self but also his ideal selfhe returns to his youth. Inevitably the garden is made the scene of man's merriment, escapades, romantic abandonment, spiritual awakening or the perfection of his finer self.

    He who has really set his mind on virtue will do no evil.

    If you lead the people with correctness, who will dare not be correct

    I do not want a friend Who smiles when I smile Who weeps when I weep For my shadow in the pool Can do better than that.

    By nature, men are nearly alike by practice, they get to be wide apart.

    It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.

    It is better to live in peace than in bitterness and strife

    Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.

    Acquire new knowledge whilst thinking over the old, and you may become a teacher of others.

    We take greater pains to persuade others we are happy than in trying to think so ourselves.

    Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.

    If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.

    Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?

    The superior man is slow in his words and earnest in his conduct

    The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.

    The main object of conciliation lies in reaching a solution to a case based upon morals and with a warm heart

    Virtue is not solitary it is bound to have neighbors

    Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.

    The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.

    I will not be concerned at other men's not knowing me;I will be concerned at my own want of ability.

    The way of the superior person is threefold virtuous, they are free from anxieties wise they are free from perplexities and bold they are free from fear.

    The book salesman should be honored because he brings to our attention, as a rule, the very books we need most and neglect most.

    I have never seen a man as fond of virtue as of women.

    The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.

    I want you to be everything that's you, deep at the center of your being.

    Those who are firm, enduring, simple and unpretentious are the nearest to virtue


    To lead an uninstructed people to war is to throw them away


    More Confucius Quotations (Based on Topics)


    Man - Education - Wisdom & Knowledge - Vice & Virtue - Life - Nature - Learning - People - Mind - Actions - Change - Courage - Money & Wealth - Fear - Abilities - Love - Sadness - War & Peace - Thought & Thinking - View All Confucius Quotations

    Related Authors


    Sun Tzu - Lao Tzu - Confucius - Bertrand Russell - Roger Bacon - Marquis de Condorcet - Diogenes - Blaise Pascal - Antisthenes - Anaxagoras


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