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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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 person of benevolence never worries.
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The love to Wisdom is getting closer to the own bright path.
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To give oneself ernestly to securing righteousness and justice among the people, and while respecting the gods and demons, to keep aloof from them, that may be called wisdom.
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From the loving example of one family a whole State may become loving, and from its courtesies, courteous; while from the ambition and perverseness of the one man the whole State may be thrown into rebellious disorder. Such is the nature of influence.
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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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Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
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In speaking, it is best to be clear and say just enough to convey the meaning.
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Benevolence is the characteristic element of humanity.
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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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Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.
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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 gentleman sees what is right while the small man sees what is profitable.
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Even in killing men, observe the rules of propriety.
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By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.
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Is virtue a thing remote? I wish to be virtuous, and lo! Virtue is at hand.
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Waste begets self-will; thrift begets meanness: but better be mean than self-willed.
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The end of the day is near when small men make long shadows.
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In archery we have something like the way of the superior man. When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns round and seeks for the cause of his failure in himself.
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The man of upright life is obeyed before he speaks.
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Knowing something is not as good as liking it. Liking something is not as good as rejoicing in it.
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A gentleman considers justice to be essential in everything. He practices it according to the principles of propriety. He brings it forth in modesty and faithfully completes it. This is indeed a gentleman.
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There is no body but eats and drinks. But they are few who can distinguish flavors.