Kung Fu-tzu Confucius Quotes (120 Quotes)


    If I do not participate in the sacrifice, it is as if I did not sacrifice at all.

    How transcendent is the virtue of the middle conduct Rare for a long time has been its practice among the people.

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

    A gentleman, in his plans, thinks of the Way he does not think how he is going to make a living. Even farming sometimes has a shortage and even learning may incidentally bring a salary. A gentleman is concerned with the progress of the Way he is not anxious about poverty.

    There are three sorts of pleasures which are advantageous, and three which are injurious. Finding pleasure in the discriminating study of ceremonies and music, finding pleasure in discussing the good points in the conduct of others, and finding pleasure in having many wise friends, these are advantageous. But finding pleasure in profligate enjoyments, finding pleasure in idle gadding about, and finding pleasure in feasting, these are injurious.








    Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.

    I have never seen one who really loves goodness or one who really hates wickedness. One who really loves goodness will not place anything above it. One who really hates wickedness will practice goodness in such a way that wickedness will have no chance to get at him. Is there anyone who has devoted his whole strength to doing good for even as long as a single day I have not seen anyone give up such an attempt because he had not the strength to go on. Perhaps there is such a case, but I have never seen it.


    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.

    The heart of the wise, like a mirror should reflect all objects without being sullied by any.



    A youth, when at home, should be filial, and, abroad, respectful to his elders.


    When you see a worthy person, endeavor to emulate him. When you see an unworthy person, then examine your inner self.

    Behave when away from home as though you were in the presence of an honored guest. Employ the people as though you were assisting at an important sacrifice. Do not do to others what you would not like yourself. Then there will be no feelings of opposition to you, whether it is the affairs of a state that you are handling or the affairs of a family.

    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.

    To know it is not as good as to love it, and to love it is not as good as to take delight in it.

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



    To have faults and to be making no effort to amend them is to have faults indeed.

    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.

    He who is influenced neither by the soaking in of slander nor by the assault of denunciation may indeed be called enlightened.





    Is not he a sage who neither anticipates deceit nor suspects bad faith in others, yet is prompt to detect them when they appear.




    I used to spend whole days without food and whole nights without sleep in order to meditate. But I made no progress. Study, I found, was better.


    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.

    The gentleman holds justice to be of highest importance. If a gentleman has courage but neglects justice, he becomes insurgent. If an inferior man has courage but neglects justice, he becomes a thief.

    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.

    There are three marks of a superior man being virtuous, he is free from anxiety being wise, he is free from perplexity being brave, he is free from fear.




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



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