Kung Fu-tzu Confucius Quotes (120 Quotes)

One who has accumulated virtue will certainly also possess eloquence but he who has eloquence doe not necessarily possess virtue.

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

The wheel of fortune turns round incessantly, and who can say to himself, I shall to-day be uppermost.

If you would one day renovate yourself, do so from day to day.

Study without reflection is a waste of time reflection without study is dangerous.

A gentleman considers justice to be essential in everything. He practices it according to the principles of propriety. He brings it forth in modesty and faithfully completes it. This is indeed a gentleman.

In antiquity men studied for their own sake nowadays men study for the sake of impressing others.

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.

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.

The palest ink is better than the most retentive memory.

Yu, shall I teach you what knowledge is When you know a thing, to recognize that you know it, and when you do not know a thing, to recognize that you do not know it. That is knowledge.

It is goodness that gives to a neighborhood its beauty. One who is free to choose, yet does not prefer to dwell among the good how can he be accorded the name of wise.

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

Love of goodness without love of learning degenerates into simple-mindedness. Love of knowledge without love of learning degenerates into utter lack of principle. Love of faithfulness without love of learning degenerates into injurious disregard of consequences. Love of uprightness without love of learning degenerates into harshness. Love of courage without love of learning degenerates into insubordination. Love of strong character without love of learning degenerates into mere recklessness.

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.

It is true that we shall not be able to reach perfection, but in our struggle toward it we shall strengthen our characters and give stability to our ideas, so that, whilst ever advancing calmly in the same direction, we shall b e rendered capable of applying the faculties with which we have been gifted to the best possible account.

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

If my mind is not engaged in my worship, it is as though I worshipped not.

The commander of the forces of a large State may be carried off, but the will of even a common man cannot be taken from him.

The injury of prodigality leads to this, that he who will not economize will have to agonize.

It is not failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.

Recompense injury with justice and recompense kindness with kindness.

Worry not that no one knows of you seek to be worth knowing.

Balance is the perfect state of still water. Let that be our model. It remains quiet within and is not disturbed on the surface.

If the gentleman is not serious, he will not be respected, and his learning will not be on a firm foundation. He considers loyalty and faithfulness to be fundamental, has no friends who are not like him, and when he has made mistakes, he is not afraid of correcting them.

The army commander of a large State may be carried off, But the will of even a common man cannot be taken for him.

Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.

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.

When internal examination discovers nothing wrong, what is there to be anxious about, what is there to fear.

I have not seen one who loves virtue as he loves beauty.

If the people be led by laws, and uniformity sought to be given them by punishments, they will try to avoid the punishment, but have no sense of shame.

The essence of knowledge is, having it, to apply it not having it, to confess your ignorance.

You judge yourself by what you think you can achieve, others judge you by what have achieved.

The real fault is to have faults and not try to mend them.

Whosesoever you go, go with all your heart.

The true gentleman does not preach what he practices till he has practiced what he preaches.

A man who has committed a mistake and doesn't correct it, is committing another mistake.

Things that are done, it is needless to speak about... Things that are past, it is needless to blame.

There is the love of knowing without the love of learning the beclouding here leads to dissipation of mind.

But if you do not have the Tao yourself, what business have you spending your time in vain efforts to bring corrupt politicians into the right path.

There are three sorts of friendships which are advantageous, and three which are injurious. Friendships with the upright, friendships with the sincere, and friendships with the well informed are advantageous. Friendships with those who flatter, friendships with those of weak principles, and friendships with those who talk cleverly are injurious.

If names are not correct, language will not be in accordance with the truth of things.

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.

A gentleman considers what is right The vulgar consider what will pay.

A knight whose heart is set upon the Way, but who is ashamed of wearing shabby clothes and eating coarse food, is not worth calling into counsel.

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

Words are the voice of the heart.

He who is really good can never be unhappy. He who is really wise can never be perplexed. He who is really brave is never afraid.

Assistance, invoke God in his behalf.

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.