Confucius Quotes
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Let every man consider virtue as what devolves on himself. He may not yield the performance of it even to his teacher.
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Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs.
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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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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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Men of principle are sure to be bold, but those who are bold may not always be men of principle.
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Wealth and rank are what men desire, but unless they be obtained in the right way they may not be possessed. Poverty and obscurity are what men detest; but unless prosperity be brought about in the right way, they are not to be abandoned.
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Don't use cannon to kill musquito.
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There is the love of knowing without the love of learning; the beclouding here leads to dissipation of mind.
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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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Excessive (population) growth may reduce output per worker, repress levels of living for the masses and engender strife.
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When you see a good man, think of emulating him; when you see a bad man, examine your own heart.
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Heaven gives long life to the just and the intelligent.
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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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The great man is sparing in words but prodigal in deeds.
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He who wished to secure the good of others, has already secured his own.
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The injury of prodigality leads to this, that he who will not economize will have to agonize.
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He who take cookie to bed have crummy night ahead.
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Chi Wen Tzu always thought three times before taking action. Twice would have been quite enough.
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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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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 superior person gathers his weapons together in order to provide against the unforeseen.
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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 the Superior Man eats he does not try to stuff himself; at rest he does not seek perfect comfort; he is diligent in his work and careful in speech. He avails himself to people of the Tao and thereby corrects himself. This is the kind of person of whom you can say, "he loves learning."
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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.