Confucius Quotes

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

“Don't worry if people don't recognize your merits; worry that you may not recognize theirs.”

“Listen widely to remove your doubts and be careful when speaking about the rest and your mistakes will be few. See much and get rid of what is dangerous and be careful in acting on the rest and your causes for regret will be few. Speaking without fault, acting without causing regret: 'upgrading' consists in this.”

“It is the obligation of the ruler to continually renew himself in order to renew the people by his example.”

“Let a man be stimulated by poetry, established by the rules of propriety, and perfected by music.”

“The superior person tries to promote music as a means to the perfection of human culture. When such music prevails, and people's minds are led towards the right ideals and aspirations, we may see the appearance of a great nation.”

“Past scholars studied to improve themselves; Today's scholars study to impress others.”

“Do not worry about not holding high position; worry rather about playing your proper role. Worry not that no one knows of you; seek to be worth knowing.”

“If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.”

“A reasonable man adjusts himself to the world. An unreasonable man expects the world to adjust itself to him. Therefore all progress is made by unreasonable people.”

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”

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

“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.”

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

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

“The chase of gain is rich in hate”

“When you serve your mother and father it is okay to try to correct them once in a while. But if you see that they are not going to listen to you, keep your respect for them and don't distance yourself from them. Work without complaining.”

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

“If you try to do too much, you will not achieve anything.”

“Every journey starts with a single step.”

“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 a person should be spoken with, and you don't speak with them, you lose them. When a person shouldn't be spoken with and you speak to them, you waste your breath. The wise do not lose people, nor do they waste their breath.”

“Earnest in practicing the ordinary virtues, and careful in speaking about them, if, in his practice, he has anything defective, the superior man dares not but exert himself; and if, in his words, he has any excess, he dares not allow himself such license.”

“Be sincere and true to your word, serious and careful in your actions; and you will get along even among barbarians, But if you are not sincere and untrustworthy in your speech, frivolous and careless in your actions, how will you get along even among your own neighbors? When stand, see these principles in front of you; in your carriage see them on the yoke. Then you may be sure to get along.”

“In teaching there should be no distinction of classes.”