Confucius Quotes
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There is only one thing in life which never changes, and it is change.
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To be poor without murmuring is difficult. To be rich without being proud is easy.
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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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The archer who misses his mark does not blame the target. He stops, corrects himself and shoots again.
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If I understand Change, I shall make no great mistake in Life.
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When one cultivates to the utmost the principles of his nature, and exercises them on the principle of reciprocity, he is not far from the path.
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Guide the people by law, subdue them by punishment; they may shun crime, but will be void of shame. Guide them by example, subdue them by courtesy; they will learn shame, and come to be good.
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There are three things to beware of through life: when a man is young, let him beware of his appetites; when he is middle-aged, of his passions; and when old, of covetousness, especially.
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Those who break down the dikes will themselves be drowned in the inundation.
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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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Many seek happiness higher than men; others beneath him. But happiness is the same height as man.
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Humankind differs from the animals only by a little and most people throw that away.
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A blemish may be removed from a diamond by careful polishing, but evil words once spoken cannot be effaced.
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That a man lives is because he is straight. That a man who dupes others survives is because he has been fortunate enough to be spared.
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The strongest memory is not as strong as the weakest ink.
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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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Those who are firm, enduring, simple and unpretentious are the nearest to virtue.
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A picture is poem without words.
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He who is really good can never be unhappy. He who is really wise can never be perplexed. He who is really brave is never afraid.
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Old age, believe me, is a good and pleasant thing. It is true you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator.
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To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness.
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It is when those who are not strong enough have made some moderate amount of progress that they fail and give up.
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When a man's knowledge is sufficient to attain, and his virtue is not sufficient to enable him to hold, whatever he may have gained, he will lose again.
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When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points.