Confucius Quotes
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When you see a worthy person, endeavor to emulate him. When you see an unworthy person, then examine your inner self.
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The man who in view of gain thinks of righteousness; who in the view of danger is prepared to give up his life; and who does not forget an old agreement however far back it extends - such a man may be reckoned a complete man.
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When a man feels the difficulty of doing, can he be other than cautious and slow in speaking?
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The superior person gathers his weapons together in order to provide against the unforeseen.
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The Master said, The case is like that of someone raising a mound. If he stops working, the fact that it perhaps needed only one more basketful makes no difference; I stay where I am. Whereas even if he has not got beyond leveling the ground, but is still at work, the fact that he has only tilted one basketful of earth makes no difference. I go to help him.
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There are three marks of a superior man: being virtuous, he is free from anxiety; being wise, he is free from perplexity; being brave, he is free from fear.
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Is virtue a thing remote? I wish to be virtuous, and lo! Virtue is at hand.
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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 superior man does what is proper to the station in which he is; he does not desire to go beyond this.
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The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.
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The person of benevolence never worries.
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He with whom neither slander that gradually soaks into the mind, nor statements that startle like a wound in the flesh, are successful may be called intelligent indeed.
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The gem cannot be polished without friction nor man without trials.
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Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.
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Faithfulness and sincerity first of all.
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Be aroused by poetry; structure yourself with propriety, refine yourself with music.
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The failure to cultivate virtue, the failure to examine and analyze what I have learned, the inability to move toward righteousness after being shown the way, the inability to correct my faults-these are the causes of my grief.
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He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.
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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.
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Teachers open the door ... you enter by yourself.
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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 man of upright life is obeyed before he speaks.
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To acknowledge our faults when we are blamed, is modesty; to discover them to one's friends in ingenuousness, is confidence; but to preach them to all the world, if one does not take care, is pride.
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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.