Confucius Quotes
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If you don't know the life yet, how could be possible for you to know the death?
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When a person should be spoken with, and you don't speak with them, you lose them. When a person shouldn't be spoken with and you speak to them, you waste your breath. The wise do not lose people, nor do they waste their breath.
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Does Heaven ever speak? The four seasons come and go, and all creatures thrive and grow. Does Heaven ever speak!
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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.
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When the perfect order prevails, the world is like a home shared by all. Leaders are capable and virtuous. Everyone loves and respects their own parents and children as well as the parents and children of others. The old are cared for, adults have jobs, children are nourished and educated. There is a means of support for all those who are disabled or find themselves alone in the world. Everyone has an appropriate role to play in the family and society. Devotion to public duty leaves no place for idleness. Scheming for ill gain is unknown. Sharing displaces selfishness and materialism.
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To think twice is quite enough.
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He is the truly courageous man who never desponds.
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He who is really kind, can never be unhappy.
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What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.
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Faithfulness and sincerity are the highest things.
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To find the Tao, there is nowhere you need to search. If it is not inside you, it is not the Tao.
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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.
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One who can move mountains start with the little stones.
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Be versed in ancient lore, and familiarize yourself with the modern; then may you become teachers.
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In old days men studied for the sake of self-improvement; nowadays men study in order to impress other people.
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Wouldst thou know if a people be well governed, or if its laws be good or bad, examine the music it practices.
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The man of perfect virtue, wishing to be established himself, seeks also to establish others; wishing to be enlarged himself, he seeks also to enlarge others.
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I have not seen one who loves virtue as he loves beauty.
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I transmit but do not create. I place my trust in the teachings of antiquity.
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There are three sorts of pleasures which are advantageous, and three which are injurious. Finding pleasure in the discriminating study of ceremonies and music, finding pleasure in discussing the good points in the conduct of others, and finding pleasure in having many wise friends, these are advantageous. But finding pleasure in profligate enjoyments, finding pleasure in idle gadding about, and finding pleasure in feasting, these are injurious.
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There are three unfilial acts: the greatest of these is the failure to produce sons.
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Without an acquaintance with the rules of propriety, it is impossible for the character to be established.
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If names be not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth of things.
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Rather than caring about whether or not you are known, strive to be worth knowing.