Confucius Quotes
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A good man regards the root; he fixes the root, and ail else flows out of it. The root is filial piety; the fruit brotherly love.
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For benefits return benefits; for injuries return justice without any admixture of revenge.
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Acquire new knowledge whilst thinking over the old, and you may become a teacher of others.
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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 a care for the consequences; and when he sees a chance for gain, he thinks carefully whether the pursuits of it would be right.
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When you meet someone better than yourself, turn your thoughts to becoming his equal. When you meet someone not as good as you are, look within and examine your own self.
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Learn as though you would never be able to master it; hold it as though you would be in fear of losing it.
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A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
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There are three friendships which are advantageous, and three which are injurious. Friendship with the upright; friendship with the sincere; and friendship with the man of much observation: these are advantageous. Friendship with the man of specious airs; friendship with the insinuatingly soft; and friendship with the glib-tongued: these are injurious.
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A man who lacks reliability is utterly useless.
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The superior man will watch over himself when he is alone. He examines his heart that there may be nothing wrong there, and that he may have no cause of dissatisfaction with himself.
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The main object of conciliation lies in reaching a solution to a case based upon morals and with a warm heart.
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Ask yourself constantly, "What is the right thing to do?" Behave toward everyone as if receiving a great guest.
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The small man thinks that small acts of goodness are of no benefit, and does not do them; and that small deeds of evil do no harm, and does not refrain from them. Hence, his wickedness becomes so great that it cannot be concealed, and his guilt so great that it cannot be pardoned.
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I saw some piglets suckling their dead mother. After a short while they shuddered and went away. They had sensed that she could no longer see them and that she wasn't like them any more. What they loved in their mother wasn't her body, but whatever it was that made her body live.
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If Language is not correct, then what is said is not what is meant. If what is said is not what is meant, then what ought to be done, remains undone.
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The superior man is anxious lest he should not get the truth; he is not anxious lest poverty should come upon him.
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A man should practice what he preaches, but a man should also preach what he practices.
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Ah, music, sacred tongue of God! I hear thee calling and I come.
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The great man is sparing in words but prodigal in deeds.
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The superior man is firm in the right way and not merely firm.
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Kong Qiu, or Master Kong as he was known, did not live to see his days of glory. During his lifetime, his views were received with scorn. But that was about two thousand five hundred years ago. A handful of his dedicated followers passed on Confucius' teachings to future generations. After Confucius' death, his followers published his teachings in the book, The Analects of Confucius.
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Bird in hand makes it harder to blow nose.
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Happiness is not at the top of the mountain, but in how to climb.
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The Man who says he can, and the man who says he can not.. Are both correct.