Confucius Quotes
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Rate the task above the prize; will not the mind be raised? Fight thine own faults, not the faults of others; will not evil be mended?
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When a nation or family is about to flourish, there are sure to be happy omens; and when it is about to perish, there are sure to be unlucky omens.
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Knowing what's correct and not doing it, it's the worst cowardice.
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Time flows away like the water in the river.
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He who fails to prepare, prepares to fail.
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Be versed in ancient lore, and familiarize yourself with the modern; then may you become teachers.
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Faithfulness and sincerity first of all.
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There are 3 elements essential in the matters of the State, Food, Military equipment, and Confidence of the people in the ruler. Of these 3, Military Equipment is the least important, Food being the 2nd important, and Confidence of the people being the MOST important. All men rather die of starvation than in war, but nevertheless all men do die of old age. Lacking in Confidence from the people, a state cannot survive.
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Though Confucius served the Duke of Lu, a Chinese state, he made many enemies with the nobles of the land. His views antagonized the powerful nobles, who wanted the Duke to be a puppet in their hands. Confucius was exiled from the State of Lu for more than two decades. He lived in the countryside, spreading his teachings.
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To know it is not as good as to love it, and to love it is not as good as to take delight in it.
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Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.
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A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do we know that his future will not be equal to our present? If he reach the age of forty or fifty, and has not made himself heard of, then indeed he will not be worth being regarded with respect.
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Sincerity is the way of heaven.
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The superior man cannot be known in little matters, but he may be entrusted with great concerns. The small man may not be entrusted with great concerns, but he may be known in little matters.
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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 commander of the forces of a large State may be carried off, but the will of even a common man cannot be taken from him.
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If your plan is for one year plant rice. If your plan is for ten years plant trees. If your plan is for one hundred years educate children.
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The higher type of man clings to virtue, the lower type of man clings to material comfort. The higher type of man cherishes justice, the lower type of man cherishes the hope of favors to be received.
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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 great man is sparing in words but prodigal in deeds.
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Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs.
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The nobler sort of man emphasizes the good qualities in others, and does not accentuate the bad. The inferior does the reverse. . . . The nobler sort of man pays special attention to nine points. He is anxious to see clearly, to hear distinctly, to be kindly in his looks, respectful in his demeanor, conscientious in his speech, earnest in his affairs. When in doubt, he is careful to inquire; when in anger, he thinks of the consequences; when offered an opportunity for gain, he thinks only of his duty.
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Bird in hand makes it harder to blow nose.
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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.