Confucius Quotes
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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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Ah, music, sacred tongue of God! I hear thee calling and I come.
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Among the appliances to transform the people, sound and appearances are but trivial influences.
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Tsze-Kung asked, “Is there one word with which to act in accordance throughout a lifetime?” The Master said, “Is not reciprocity such a word? What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.
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He who learns but does not think, is lost. He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.
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Many seek happiness higher than men; others beneath him. But happiness is the same height as man.
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Even in killing men, observe the rules of propriety.
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When young, beware of fighting; when strong, beware of sex; and when old, beware of possession.
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He who kisses girl on hillside is not level.
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The most beautiful sight in the world is a little child going confidently down the road of life after you have shown him the way.
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Waste begets self-will; thrift begets meanness: but better be mean than self-willed.
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Love makes a spot beautiful: who chooses not to dwell in love, has he got wisdom?
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People with virtue must speak out; People who speak are not all virtuous.
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He who remembers from day to day what he has yet to learn, and from month to month what he has learned already, may be said to have a love of learning.
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Even four harnessed horses cannot bring imprudent words back into the mouth.
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Humankind differs from the animals only by a little and most people throw that away.
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To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness.
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Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.
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The man of noble mind seeks to achieve the good in others and not their evil. The little-minded man is the reverse of this.
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The gentleman sees what is right while the small man sees what is profitable.
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Among us, in our part of the country, those who are upright are different from this. The father conceals the misconduct of the son, and the son conceals the misconduct of the father. Uprightness is to be found in this.
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On matters beyond his ken a gentleman speaks with caution. If names are not right, words are misused. When words are misused, affairs go wrong. When affairs go wrong, courtesy and music droop, law and justice fail. And when law and justice fail them, a people can move neither hand nor foot. So a gentleman must be ready to put names in speech, to put words into deeds. A gentleman is nowise careless of words.
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The Master said, “A true gentleman is one who has set his heart upon the Way. A fellow who is ashamed merely of shabby clothing or modest meals is not even worth conversing with.” (Analects 4.9)
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The virtuous man is driven by responsibility, the non-virtuous man is driven by profit.