Confucius Quotes
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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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To be fond of learning is near to wisdom.
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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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The object of the superior man is truth.
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If I am virtuous and worthy, for whom should I not maintain a proper concern?
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Slater soaks into the mind as water into low and marshy places, where it becomes stagnant and offensive.
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The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra. The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me you don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step the man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.
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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?
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The tongue must be heavy indeed, because so few people can hold it.
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The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come.
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We take greater pains to persuade others that we are happy than in endeavoring to think so ourselves.
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Time flows away like the water in the river.
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A gentleman can withstand hardships; it is only the small man who, when submitted to them, is swept off his feet.
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In the Book of Poetry there are three hundred poems, but the meaning of all of them may be put in a single sentence: Have no debasing thoughts.
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Therefore only through education does one come to be dissatisfied with his own knowledge, and only through teaching others does one come to realize the uncomfortable inadequacy of his knowledge. Being dissatisfied with his own knowledge, one then realizes that the trouble lies with himself, and realizing the uncomfortable inadequacy of his knowledger.
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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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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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If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.
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He who needs only coarse food, water and drink, and as pillow his folded arms will find happiness without further search.
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When frying small fish, disturb them little.
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Be versed in ancient lore, and familiarize yourself with the modern; then may you become teachers.
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He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger... Men of superior mind busy themselves first getting at the root of things; when they succeed, the right course is open to them.
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Even if people do not know what real kindness is, they nonetheless have it within them.