Confucius Quotes

Humanity is the equity of the heart.

Grieve not that men do not know you; grieve that you do not know men.

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

Straight-forwardness, without the rules of propriety, becomes rudeness.

A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace.

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.

The superior person gathers his weapons together in order to provide against the unforeseen.

Therefore the superior man is watchful over himself, when he is alone.

Be versed in ancient lore, and familiarize yourself with the modern; then may you become teachers.

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

He Who Knows And Knows That He Knows Is A Wise Man - Follow Him; He Who Knows Not And Knows Not That He Knows Not Is A Fool - Shun Him

I'd rather die for speaking out, than to live and be silent.

He who crosses the ocean twice without washing is a dirty double crosser.

I have not seen a person who loved virtue, or one who hated what was not virtuous. He who loved virtue would esteem nothing above it.

Don't worry about being acknowledged by others; worry about failing to acknowledge them.

A fool marvels at rare things, but a wise man at common ones.

When superiors are fond of showing their humanity, inferiors try to outstrip one another in their practice of it.

There has never been a man mean and at the same time virtuous.

Everyone calls his son his son, whether he has talents or has not talents.

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

A gentleman can withstand hardships; it is only the small man who, when submitted to them, is swept off his feet.

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

It is when those who are not strong enough have made some moderate amount of progress that they fail and give up.

When music and courtesy are better understood and appreciated, there will be no war.

Let the states of equilibrium and harmony exist in perfection, and a happy order will prevail throughout heaven and earth, and all things will be nourished and flourish.

The Three Armies can be deprived of their commanding officer, but even a common man cannot be deprived of his purpose.

If a man keeps cherishing his old knowledge so as continually to be acquiring new, he may be a teacher of others.

We should worship as though the deity were present.

When you locate good in yourself, approve of it with determination. When you locate evil in yourself, despise it as something detestable.

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 superior man, even when he is not moving, has a feeling of reverence, and while he speaks not, he has the feeling of truthfulness.

The superior man is universally minded and no partisan. The inferior man is a partisan and not universal.

The people may be made to follow a path of action but they may not be made to understand it.

A superior man may be made to go to the well, but he cannot be made to go down into it. He may be imposed upon, but he cannot be fooled.

To love a thing means wanting it to live.

Things have their roots and branches. Affairs have their beginnings and their ends. To know what is first and what is last will lead one near the Way.

Heaven, in the production of things, is sure to be bountiful to them, according to their qualities. Hence the tree that is flourishing, it nourishes, while that which is ready to fall, it overthrows.

If Language is not correct, then what is said is not what is meant. If what is said is not what is meant, then what ought to be done, remains undone.

The Superior Man is all-embracing and not partial. The inferior man is partial and not all-embracing.

A gentleman considers what is right; the vulgar consider what will pay.

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

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

Excess weakens the spirits.

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

The Master said, “If your conduct is determined solely by considerations of profit you will arouse great resentment.

Heaven sends down its good and evil symbols and wise men act accordingly.

A lack of patience in trifling matters might lead to the disruption of great project.

Isn't it a pleasure to study and practice what you have learned?

Those whose courses are different cannot lay plans for one another.

Clever talk and domineering manner have little to with being a Man at His Best.