Famous Quotes by Confucius |Short Quotes by Confucius| Famous Peoples English Quotes
- The Master said, At fifteen I set my heart upon learning. At thirty, I had planted my feet firm upon the ground. At forty, I no longer suffered from perplexities. At fifty, I knew what the biddings of Heaven were. At sixty, I heard them with docile ear. At seventy, I could follow the dictates of my own heart; for what I desired no longer overstepped the boundaries of right.
- To govern is to correct. If you set an example by being correct, who would dare remain incorrect?
- Good government obtains when those who are near are made happy, and those who are far off are attracted.
- The superior man, extensively studying all learning, and keeping himself under the restraint of the rules of propriety, may thus likewise not overstep what is right.
- Grieve not that men do not know you;
grieve that you do not know men. - I have yet to meet a man as fond of high moral conduct as he is of outward appearances.
- When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.
- A man may not transgress the bounds of major morals but may make errors in minor morals.
- There are some with whom we may study in common, but we shall find them unable to go along with us to principles. Perhaps we may go on with them to principles, but we shall find them unable to get established in those along with us. Or if we may get so established along with them, we shall find them unable to weigh occurring events along with us.
- Men of principle are sure to be bold,
but those who are bold may not always be men of principle. - Let every man consider virtue as what devolves on himself. He may not yield the performance of it even to his teacher.
- If one is guided by profit in one’s actions, one will incur much ill will.
- There is nothing more visible than what is secret, and nothing more manifest than what is minute.
- 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.
- He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.
- 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 gentleman has nine cares. In seeing he is careful to see clearly; in hearing, he is careful to hear distinctly; in his looks, he is careful to be kind, in his manner to be respectful, in his words to be sincere, in his work to be diligent. When in doubt he is careful to ask for information; when angry he has cared about the consequences; and when he sees a chance for gain, he thinks carefully about whether the pursuit of it would be right.
- If the people be led by laws, and uniformity sought to be given them by punishments, they will try to avoid the punishment, but have no sense of shame.
- The silent treasuring up of knowledge; learning without satiety; and instructing others without being wearied: which one of these things belongs to me?
- I used to take on trust in a man’s deeds after having listened to his words. Now having listened to a man’s words I go on to observe his deeds.
- Men of practical knowledge find their gratification among rivers.
- Therefore the superior man is watchful over himself when he is alone.
- The superior man understands righteousness; the inferior man understands profit.
- It is the way of the superior man to prefer the concealment of his virtue, while it daily becomes more illustrious, and it is the way of the mean man to seek notoriety, while he daily goes more and more to ruin.
- 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.
- The superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions.
- Shall I tell you what knowledge is? It is to know both what one knows and what one does not know.
- The noble-minded are calm and steady. Little people are forever fussing and fretting.
- It is soft, smooth, and shining—like intelligence. Its edges seem sharp but do not cut—like justice. It hangs down to the ground—like humility. When struck, it gives a clear, ringing sound—like music. The strains in it are not hidden and add to its beauty—like truthfulness.’ What imagination!
- When nature exceeds culture, we have the rustic. When culture exceeds nature then we the pedant.
- Man is born with uprightness. If one loses it he will be lucky if he escapes with his life.
- There are cases in which the blade springs, but the plant does not go on to flower. There are cases where it flowers, but no fruit is subsequently produced.
- Man is born for uprightness. If a man loses his uprightness and yet live, his escape from death is the effect of mere good fortune.
- To rank, the effort above the prize may be called love.
- 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.
- First and foremost, be faithful to your superiors, keep all promises, and refuse the friendship of all who are not like you; and if you have made a mistake, do not be afraid of admitting the fact and amending your ways.
- No state can exist without the confidence of the people.
- One who will study for three years. Without thought of reward. Would be hard indeed to find.
- The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.
- When the multitude detests a man, the inquiry is necessary; when the multitude likes a man, the inquiry is equally necessary.
