Confucius Quotes

There are three things which the superior man guards against. In youth ... lust. When he is strong ... quarrelsomeness. When he is old ... covetousness.

A workman who wants to do his work well must first prepare his tools.

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.

We should not be too familiar with the lower orders or with women.

When the multitude detests a man, inquiry is necessary; when the multitude likes a man, inquiry is equally necessary.

The vices come as passengers, visit us as guest and stay as masters.

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.

The great man is sparing in words but prodigal in deeds.

Give a man a fish, feed home for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed for a lifetime.

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.

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

Learn, as if never overtaking your object, and yet as if apprehensive of losing it.

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

A good man is not mine to see. Could I see a man possessed of constancy, that would satisfy me.

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.

Big head, target for enemy; big heart, target for friend.

The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does not forget that disorder may come. Thus his person is not endangered, and his States and all their clans are preserved.

The superior man... does not set his mind either for or against anything, he will pursue whatever is right. The superior man thinks of virtue, the common man of comfort.

The Superior Man has nothing to compete for. But if he must compete, he does it in an archery match, wherein he ascends to his position, bowing in deference. Descending, he drinks the ritual cup.

True goodness springs from a man's own heart. All men are born good.

The one who was born a genius can't win against the one who tries, and the one who tries can't win against the one who enjoys.

place where man laughs, sings, picks flowers, chases butterflies and pets birds, makes love with maidens, and plays with children. Here he spontaneously reveals his nature, the base as well as the noble. Here also he buries his sorrows and difficulties and cherishes his ideals and hopes. It is in the garden that men discover themselves. Indeed one discovers not only his real self but also his ideal self?he returns to his youth. Inevitably the garden is made the scene of man's merriment, escapades, romantic abandonment, spiritual awakening or the perfection of his finer self.

It's only in winter that the pine and cypress are known to be evergreens.

To be excellent when engaged in administration is to be like the North Star. As it remains in its one position, all the other stars surround it.

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

A man exercising no forethought will soon experience present sorrow.

We can know a person by observing his behaviour, understanding the reasons for his actions and ascertaining his intentions. If we do this, how can we not know him?

See a person's means ... Observe his motives. Examine that in which he rests. How can a person conceal his character?

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

Every piece of marble has a statue in it waiting to be released by a person of sufficient skill to chip away the unnecessary parts. Just as the sculptor is to the marble, so is education to the soul. It releases it. For only educated people are free people. You cannot create a statue by smashing the marble with a hammer, and you cannot by the force of arms release the spirit or the soul of people.

How great is the path proper to the Sage! Like overflowing water, it sends forth and nourishes all things, and rises up to the height of heaven. All-complete is its greatness! It embraces the three hundred rules of ceremony, and the three thousand rules of demeanor. It waits for the proper man, and then it is trodden. Hence it is said, 'Only by perfect virtue can the perfect path, in all its courses, be made a fact.'

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

To err and not reform, this may indeed be called error.

For one word a man is often deemed to be wise, and for one word he is often deemed to be foolish. We should be careful indeed what we say.

Among the appliances to transform the people, sound and appearances are but trivial influences.

Wisdom, humanity & courage, these three are universal virtues. The way by which they are practiced are one.

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

A superior man in dealing with the world is not for anything or against anything. He follows righteousness as the standard.

The green reed which bends in the wind is stronger than the mighty oak which breaks in a storm.

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

He is the truly courageous man who never desponds.

The requisites of government are that there be sufficiency of food, sufficiency of military equipment, and the confidence of the people in their ruler.

In a district of ten families, there must be someone as honorable and sincere as I, but none as fond of learning.

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

Is virtue a thing remote? I wish to be virtuous, and lo! Virtue is at hand.

Who keeps the old akindle and adds new knowledge is fitted to be a teacher.

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

An angry person is always full of poison.

To love a thing means wanting it to live.

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

The superior man is distressed by his want (lack) of ability

Between friends, frequent reproofs make the friendship distant.

Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.

There is good government when those who are near are made happy, and when those who are afar are attracted.

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

Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it. To see it a person only needs to imagine how it could be worse.

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.

Wisdom delights in water; love delights in hills. Wisdom is stirring; love is quiet. Wisdom is merry; love grows old.

Unify your attention. Do not listen with your ears, but with your mind. Do not listen with your mind but with your essence.