Confucius Quotes
-
Man is born for uprightness. If a man lose his uprightness and yet live, his escape from death is mere good fortune.
-
It is when those who are not strong enough have made some moderate amount of progress that they fail and give up.
-
For one word a man is often deemed to be wise, and for one word he is often deemed to be foolish. We should be careful indeed what we say.
-
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.
-
But if you do not have the Tao yourself, what business have you spending your time in vain efforts to bring corrupt politicians into the right path?
-
To be poor without murmuring is difficult. To be rich without being proud is easy.
-
Base yourself in loyalty and trust. Don't be companion with those who are not your moral equal. When you make a mistake, don't hesitate to correct it.
-
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.
-
A gentleman can withstand hardships; it is only the small man who, when submitted to them, is swept off his feet.
-
Those who know the TRUTH are not equal to those who love it.
-
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.
-
The Superior Man is all-embracing and not partial. The inferior man is partial and not all-embracing.
-
Only by perfect virtue can the perfect path, in all its courses, be made a fact.
-
The gods should certainly be revered, but kept at a distance... . The way is not beyond man; he who creates a way outside of man cannot make it a true way. A good man is content with changing man, and that is enough for him.
-
The young should be dutiful at home, modest abroad, careful and true, overflowing in kindness for all, but in brotherhood with love. And if they have strength to spare they should spend it on the arts.
-
In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations, they first harmonized their families. Wishing to harmonize their families, they first cultivated themselves. Wishing to cultivate themselves, they first rectified their minds. Those who wished to rectify their minds first made their intentions sincere.
-
Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs.
-
If I understand Change, I shall make no great mistake in Life.
-
If one leads them with administrative measures and uses punishments to make them conform, the people will be evasive, but if one leads them with virtue, they will come up to expectations.
-
What you do not wish upon yourself, extend not to others.