Confucius Quotes
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Sincerity is the end and beginning of things; without sincerity there would be nothing.
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Only one who bursts with enthusiasm do I instruct; Only one who bubbles with excitement do I enlighten. If I hold up one corner and you do not come back to me with the other three, I do not continue the lesson.
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Yin and yang, male and female, strong and weak, rigid and tender, heaven and earth, light and darkness, thunder and lightning, cold and warmth, good and evil...the interplay of opposite principles constitutes the universe.
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The contrived language and the flattering attitude rarely come with the virtue.
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By gaining the people, the kingdom is gained; by losing the people, the kingdom is lost.
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The superior man does not mind being in office; all he minds about is whether he has qualities that entitle him to office. He does not mind failing to get recognition; he is too busy doing the things that entitle him to recognition.
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Expect much from yourself and little from others and you will avoid incurring resentments.
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It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.
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If you don't want to do something,don't impose on others.
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Who expects to be able to go out of a house except by the door? How is it then that no one follows this Way of ours?
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Gentlemen cherish worth; the vulgar cherish dirt. Gentlemen trust in justice; the vulgar trust in favor.
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If there were an honorable way to get rich, I’d do it, even if it meant being a stooge standing around with a whip. But there isn’t an honorable way, so I just do what I like.
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If a man in the morning hear the right way, he may die in the evening without regret.
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The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.
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Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue.
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If an urn lacks the characteristics of an urn, how can we call it an urn?
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Learn, as if never overtaking your object, and yet as if apprehensive of losing it.
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If a man be under the influence of anger his conduct will not be correct.
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A man who does not forget an agreement is resolved and honorable man.
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Every man knows the smell of his own fart.
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Confucius say... politician is one who shakes your hand before elections and your confidence after.
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The perfecting of one's self is the fundamental base of all progress and all moral development.
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The Master said, "Wealth and honor are things that all people desire, and yet unless they are acquired in the proper way I will not abide them. Poverty and disgrace are things that all people hate, and yet unless they are avoided in the proper way I will not despise them. If the gentleman abandons ren, how can he be worthy of that name? The gentleman does not violate ren even for the amount of time required to eat a meal. Even in times of urgency or distress, he does not depart from it."
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There are some with whom we may study in common, but we shall find them unable to go along with us to principles. Perhaps we may go on with them to principles, but we shall find them unable to get established in those along with us. Or if we may get so established along with them, we shall find them unable to weigh occurring events along with us.