Confucius quotes

Old age, believe me, is a good and pleasant thing. It is true you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator.

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.

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

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.

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

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

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.

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

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

Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.

To see the right and not to do it is 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.

The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.

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.

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.

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

You cannot open a book without learning something.

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

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.

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.

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.

Wherever you go, go with all your heart.

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.

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

When anger rises, think of the consequences.

Study the past, if you would divine the future.

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.

Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.

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.

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

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

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

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

Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.

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

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

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

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

Old age, believe me, is a good and pleasant thing. It is true you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator.

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

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.

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.

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

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

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.

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.

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.

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

It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.

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

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.

The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.

Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.