Kung Fu-tzu Confucius Quotes on Man (19 Quotes)

The gentleman is calm and at ease. The gentleman is dignified but not proud the small man is proud but not dignified.

True goodness springs from a man's own heart. All men are born good.

If a man is not good, what has he to do with the rules of propriety If he is not good, what has he to do with music.

A good man will certainly also possess courage but a brave man is not necessarily good.

The way of a superior man is threefold Virtuous, he is free from anxieties Wise, he is free from perplexities Bold, he is free from fear.

If a man take no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.

Without goodness a man cannot endure adversity for long, nor can he enjoy prosperity for long. The good man is naturally at ease with goodness. The wise man cultivates goodness for its advantage.

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

A gentleman does not promote a man on account of what he says nor does he reject sayings, because the speaker is what he is.

The Way is not for, but from, man if we take the Way as something superhuman, beyond man, this is not the real Way.

The nobler sort of man emphasizes the good qualities in others, and does not accentuate the bad. The inferior does the reverse.... The nobler sort of man pays special attention to nine points. He is anxious to see clearly, to hear distinctly, to be kindly in his looks, respectful in his demeanor, conscientious in his speech, earnest in his affairs. When in doubt, he is careful to inquire when in anger, he thinks of the consequences when offered an opportunity for gain, he thinks only of his duty.

The gentleman can see a question from all sides without bias. The small man is biased and can see a question only from one side.

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.

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.

Men of principles are always bold, but those who are bold are not always men of principle.

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.

A good man is not mine to see. Could I see a man possessed of constancy, that would satisfy me.

A good man does not worry about not being known by others, but rather is concerned about not knowing them.

Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know men.