Confucius Quotes
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Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.
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Past scholars studied to improve themselves; Today's scholars study to impress others.
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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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Love of goodness without love of learning degenerates into simple-mindedness. Love of knowledge without love of learning degenerates into utter lack of principle. Love of faithfulness without love of learning degenerates into injurious disregard of consequences. Love of uprightness without love of learning degenerates into harshness. Love of courage without love of learning degenerates into insubordination. Love of strong character without love of learning degenerates into mere recklessness.
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There is no body but eats and drinks. But they are few who can distinguish flavors.
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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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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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If the gentleman is not serious, he will not be respected, and his learning will not be on a firm foundation. He considers loyalty and faithfulness to be fundamental, has no friends who are not like him, and when he has made mistakes, he is not afraid of correcting them.
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If you try to do too much, you will not achieve anything.
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The gentleman sees what is right while the small man sees what is profitable.
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He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.
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If I cannot get men who steer a middle course to associate with, I would far rather have the impetuous and hasty. For the impetuous at any rate assert themselves.
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To know your faults and be able to change is the greatest virtue.
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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 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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A knight whose heart is set upon the Way, but who is ashamed of wearing shabby clothes and eating coarse food, is not worth calling into counsel.
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When music and courtesy are better understood and appreciated, there will be no war.
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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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A youth is to be regarded with respect.
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Among the appliances to transform the people, sound and appearances are but trivial influences.
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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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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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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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A superior man in dealing with the world is not for anything or against anything. He follows righteousness as the standard.