Confucius quotes

To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.

• 24
• mistakes

When anger rises, think of the consequences.

• 24
• anger

Study the past if you would divine the future.

• 23
• past

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

• 20
• example

We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression.

• 20
• sadness

To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness.

• 19
• evil

Consideration for others is the basic of a good life, a good society.

• 19
• manners

Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.

• 19
• wisdom

Mankind differs from the animals only by a little and most people throw that away.

• 15
• animals

A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.

• 13
• planning

The perfecting of one's self is the fundamental base of all progress and all moral development.

• 12
• growth

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

• 12
• worry

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

• 11
• knowledge

It is not possible for one to teach others who cannot teach his own family.

• 11
• family

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

• 11
• failure

Don't complain about the snow on your neighbor's roof when your own doorstep is unclean.

• 11
• snow

The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.

• 10
• mistakes

Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.

• 10
• virtue

Learn as though you would never be able to master it; hold it as though you would be in fear of losing it.

• 10
• learning

Faithfulness and sincerity are the highest things.

• 9
• marriage

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

• 9
• wisdom

He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.

• 9
• learning

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

• 9
• conscience

Do not worry about holding high position; worry rather about playing your proper role.

• 9
• worry

What the superior person seeks is in themselves. What the mean person seeks is in others.

• 8
• superiority

When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.

• 8
• mistakes

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

• 8
• knowledge

When prosperity comes, do not use all of it.

• 7
• success

The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.

• 6
• family

They must change who would be constant in happiness and wisdom.

• 6
• change

I am not concerned that I am not known, I seek to be worthy to be known.

• 6
• fame

The father who does not teach his son his duties is equally guilty with the son who neglects them.

• 6
• father

To be with God.

• 5
• heaven

Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.

• 5
• diamond

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

• 5
• inspirational

Can there be a love which does not make demands on its object?

• 5
• love

Have no friends not equal to yourself.

• 5
• friends

The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability that he has.

• 5
• ability

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

• 4
• virtue

Boldness, without the rules of propriety, becomes insubordination.

• 4
• risk

When you know a thing, to hold that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it--this is knowledge.

• 4
• knowledge

To know what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice.

• 4
• cowardiceweakness

Man who stand on hill with mouth open will wait long time for roast duck to drop in.

• 4
• actions

You cannot open a book without learning something.

• 4
• learning

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

• 4
• ignorance

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

• 4
• happiness

An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.

• 4
• feared

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

• 4
• words

To see what is right, and not do it, is want of courage, or of principle.

• 3
• character

Humility is the solid foundation of all the virtues.

• 3
• humility

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

• 3
• fate

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

• 3
• comes

And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

• 2
• rockstar

The parents age must be remembered, both for joy and anxiety.

• 2
• family

Virtuous people often revenge themselves for the constraints to which they submit by the boredom which they inspire.

• 2
• boredom

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

• 2
• respect

The object of the superior man is truth.

• 2
• truth

Not to alter one's faults is to be faulty indeed.

• 2
• mistakes

The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.

• 2
• business

What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.

• 1
• inner

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

• 1
• service

He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.

• 1
• compared

Of neighborhoods, benevolence is the most beautiful. How can the man be considered wise who when he had the choice does not settle in benevolence.

• 1
• neighbors

Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.

• 1
• kindness

When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself.

• 1
• laboring

Think no vice so small that you may commit it, and no virtue so small that you may over look it.

• 1
• virtue

To be fond of learning is near to wisdom; to practice with vigor is near to benevolence; and to be conscious of shame is near to fortitude. He who knows these three things

• 1
• character

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

• 1
• labor

Speak the truth, do not yield to anger; give, if thou art asked for little; by these three steps thou wilt go near the gods.

• 1
• anger

The faults of a superior person are like the sun and moon. They have their faults, and everyone sees them; they change and everyone looks up to them.

• 1
• mistakes

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

• 1
• comfort

Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honors depend upon heaven.

• 1
• fate

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

• 1
• enduring

If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.

• 1
• teaching

Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs.

• affairs

Lead the people with administrative injunctions and put them in their place with penal law, and they will avoid punishments but will be without a sense of shame. Lead them with excellence and put them in their place through roles and ritual practices, and in addition to developing a sense of shame, they will order themselves harmoniously

• philosophical

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

• leadership

When we see persons of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see persons of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.

• character

How to play music may be known. At the commencement of the piece, all the parts should sound together. As it proceeds, they should be in harmony while severally distinct and flowing without break, and thus on to the conclusion.

• music

Heaven means to be one with God.

• god

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

• persistence

Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.

• yourself

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

• success

I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand.

• hear

They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.

• happiness

Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.

• courage

Do not be desirous of having things done quickly. Do not look at small advantages. Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.

• patience

I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge; I am one who is fond of antiquity, and earnest in seeking it there.

• knowledge

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.

• teacher

Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.

• hold

The cautious seldom err.

• leadership

There are three methods to gaining wisdom. The first is reflection, which is the highest. The second is limitation, which is the easiest. The third is experience, which is the bitterest.

• wisdom

Is there any one maxim which ought to be acted upon throughout one's whole life? Surely the maxim of loving kindness is such: Do not unto others what you would not they should do unto you.

• kindness

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

• action

Tsze-Kung asked, saying, is there one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one's life? The Master said, Is not Reciprocity such a word? What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.

• words

To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right.

• change

Look at the means which a man employs, consider his motives, observe his pleasures. A man simply cannot conceal himself!

• conceal

If some years were added to my life, I would give fifty to the study of the Yi, and then I might come to be without great faults.

• life

He who acts with a constant view to his own advantage will be much murmured against.

• view

If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?

• fear

To see the right and not to do it is cowardice.

• cowardice

To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men; and the employment of the people at the proper seasons.

• love

Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.

A youth, when at home, should be filial and, abroad, respectful to his elders. He should be earnest and truthful. He should overflow in love to all and cultivate the friendship of the good. When he has time and opportunity, after the performance of these things, he should employ them in polite studies.

• friendship

When things are investigated, then true knowledge is achieved; when true knowledge is achieved, then the will becomes sincere; when the will is sincere, then the heart is set right ; when the heart is set right, then the personal life is cultivated; when the personal life is cultivated, then the family life is regulated; when the family life is regulated, then the national life is orderly; and when the national life is orderly, then there is peace in this world.

When nature exceeds culture, we have the rustic. When culture exceeds nature then we the pedant.

• scholars

Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.

• forget

Wherever you go, go with all your heart.

• heart

To those whose talents are above mediocrity, the highest subjects may be announced. To those who are below mediocrity, the highest subjects may not be announced.

• mediocrity

Silence is a true friend who never betrays.

• friend

If we don't know life, how can we know death?

• death

In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.

• ashamed

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.

• joy

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

• ability

He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.

• difficult

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, seek to be worthy of being known.

• being

The superior man does not, even for the space of a single meal, act contrary to virtue. In moments of haste, he cleaves to it. In seasons of danger, he cleaves to it.

• space

Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.

• dance

Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.

Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak not what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety.

• look