Confucius Quotes

Care not for want of place; care for thy readiness to fill one. Care not for being unknown, but seek to be worthy of note.

Reviewing the day's lessons. Isn't it joyful? Friends come from far. Isn't it delightful? One has never been angry at other's misunderstanding. Isn't he a respectable man?

While you are not able to serve men, how can you serve spirits of the dead...While you do not know life, how can you know about death

If you know, say you know. If you don't know, say you don't know.

The good man does not grieve that other people do not recognize his merits. His only anxiety is lest he should fail to recognize theirs.

Surely it is the maxim of loving-kindness: Do not unto others that you would not have them do unto you.

Let every man consider virtue as what devolves on himself. He may not yield the performance of it even to his teacher.

The strongest memory is not as strong as the weakest ink.

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

There is no body but eats and drinks. But they are few who can distinguish flavors.

If language is not rectified, words do not correspond to meaning, and if words do not correspond to meaning, our deeds cannot be accomplished.

I never really said all those things I said

I could see peace instead of this.

He who take cookie to bed have crummy night ahead.

In speaking, it is best to be clear and say just enough to convey the meaning.

Woman is the masterpiece.

When admins have faults, they do not fear to ignore them

If you reflect within yourself and find nothing to be ashamed of, how could you have anxiety or fear.

A man living without conflicts, as if he never lives at all.

The Master said, “The gentleman understands what is right, whereas the petty man understands profit.” (Analects 4.16)

Not too isolated, not too many relationships, the middle, that's wisdom.

At fifteen my mind was directed to study, and at thirty I knew where to stand.

The superior man is easy to serve, but difficult to please ... The inferior man is difficult to serve, but easy to please.

The demands that a great man makes are on himself; those of a petty man are upon others.

Let a ruler base his government upon virtuous principles, and he will be like the pole-star, which remains steadfast in its place, while all the host of stars turn towards it

Never seek illicit wealth.

To know that one knows what one knows, and to know that one doesn't know what one doesn't know, there lies true wisdom.

To give oneself ernestly to securing righteousness and justice among the people, and while respecting the gods and demons, to keep aloof from them, that may be called wisdom.

One dedicated worker is worth a thousand slaves.

Don't use cannon to kill musquito.

The great mountain must collapse, the mighty beam must break and the wise man wither like a plant.

Listen widely to remove your doubts and be careful when speaking about the rest and your mistakes will be few.

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

To rein a kingdom efficiently it is necessary, before all, to put into good order the family. It's impossible for a man who doesn't know how to lead his own family to know how to lead a country.

The only people who cannot change are the most wise and the most stupid.

Learning without thought is labour lost.

The superior man accords with the course of the Mean. Though he may be all unknown, unregarded by the world, he feels no regret - It is only the sage who is able for this.

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

A man whose strength gives out collapses along the course. In your case you set the limits beforehand.

Even when walking in the company of two other men, I am bound to be able to learn from them. The good points of the one I copy, the bad points of the other I correct in myself.

The Master is cordial yet stern, awe-inspiring yet not fierce and respectful yet at ease.

It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve and bad things are very easy to get.

When the wind blows, the grass bends.

Die Wahrheit hat keinen Erfolg.

The Master said, “A true teacher is one who, keeping the past alive, is also able to understand the present.”(Analects 2.11)

he who will not economize will have to agonize

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

The wise never doubt. The Humane never worry. The brave never fear.

One who never anticipates deceit or expects duplicity, and yet is the first to recognize such things – is that not a sage indeed?

I am not one who was born with great wisdom. I love the ancients and diligently seek wisdom among them.