Confucius Quotes
-
If either wealth or poverty are come by honesty, there is no shame.
-
Place where man laughs, sings, picks flowers, chases butterflies and pets birds, makes love with maidens, and plays with children. Here he spontaneously reveals his nature, the base as well as the noble. Here also he buries his sorrows and difficulties and cherishes his ideals and hopes. It is in the garden that men discover themselves. Indeed one discovers not only his real self but also his ideal self?he returns to his youth. Inevitably the garden is made the scene of man's merriment, escapades, romantic abandonment, spiritual awakening or the perfection of his finer self.
-
Coarse rice to eat, water to drink, my bended arm for a pillow - therein is happiness. Wealth and rank attained through immoral means are nothing but drifting clouds.
-
In teaching there should be no distinction of classes.
-
Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know more.
-
The general of a large army may be defeated, but you cannot defeat the determined mind of a peasant.
-
There is one single thread binding my way together...the way of the Master consists in doing one's best...that is all.
-
The book salesman should be honored because he brings to our attention, as a rule, the very books we need most and neglect most.
-
A lack of patience in trifling matters might lead to the disruption of great project.
-
A ruthless man extends his ruthlessness from those he does not love to those he loves.
-
Straight-forwardness, without the rules of propriety, becomes rudeness.
-
Be loyal to yourself, charitable to neighbours, nothing more.
-
The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does not forget that disorder may come. Thus his person is not endangered, and his States and all their clans are preserved.
-
Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.
-
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."
-
Not feeling compassion for a stranger is like not feeling when one's foot has caught fire.
-
The Superior Man is aware of Righteousness, the inferior man is aware of advantage.
-
The man who is master of himself drinks gravely and wisely.
-
Heaven means to be one with God.
-
A scholar who loves comfort is not fit to be called a scholar.
-
Never seek illicit wealth.
-
Not to converse with a man worthy of conversation is to waste the man. To converse with a man not worthy of conversation is to waste words. The wise waste neither men nor words.