Confucius Quotes
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The Master was entirely free from four things: prejudice, foregone conclusions, obstinacy, and egoism.
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It cannot be when the root is neglected that what springs from it will be well ordered.
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If proper in their own conduct, what difficulty would they have in governing? But if not able to be proper in their own conduct, how can they demand such conduct from others?
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Let a ruler base his government upon virtuous principles, and he will be like the pole-star, which remains steadfast in its place, while all the host of stars turn towards it.
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Not to alter one's faults is to be faulty indeed.
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An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.
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Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.
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Knowledge without practice is useless. Practice without knowledge is dangerous.
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As the water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it, so a wise man adapts himself to circumstances.
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Do not use a cannon to kill a mosquito.
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The superior man has a dignified ease without pride. The mean man has pride without a dignified ease.
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The Master said, If out of the three hundred songs I had to take one phrase to cover all my teachings, I would say 'Let there be no evil in your thoughts.'
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Consideration for others is the basis of a good life, a good society.
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We should keep the dead before our eyes, and honor them as though still living.
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He who crosses the ocean twice without washing is a dirty double crosser.
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Do unto others what you want done unto you.
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What Heaven has conferred is called The Nature; an accordance with this nature is called The Path of duty; the regulation of this path is called Instruction. The path may not be left for an instant. If it could be left, it would not be the path.
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What you know, you know, what you don't know, you don't know. This is true wisdom.
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Sincerity becomes apparent. From being apparent, it becomes manifest. From being manifest, it becomes brilliant. Brilliant, it affects others. Affecting others, they are changed by it. Changed by it, they are transformed. It is only he who is possessed of the most complete sincerity that can exist under heaven, who can transform.
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A gentleman is ashamed to let his words outrun his deeds.
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With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bent arm for a pillow - I have still joy in the midst of all these things.
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Big head, target for enemy; big heart, target for friend.
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Stars are holes in the sky from which the light of the infinite shines.
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There may be men who act without understanding why. I do not. To listen much, pick out the good and follow it; to see much and ponder it: this comes next to understanding.