Confucius Quotes
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Here is an example of Confucius sayings: "It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop." In a few words, Confucius teaches us about patience, perseverance, discipline, and hard work. But if you probe further, you will see more layers. Confucius' philosophies have significantly influenced spiritual and social thought. His views bear insight and depth of wisdom. You can apply his teachings in every sphere of life. Confucius' profound teachings are based on humanism.
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If the people be led by laws, and uniformity sought to be given them by punishments, they will try to avoid the punishment, but have no sense of shame.
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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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Excess weakens the spirits.
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What the great learning teaches, is to illustrate illustrious virtue; to renovate the people; and to rest in the highest excellence.
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Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.
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A reasonable man adjusts himself to the world. An unreasonable man expects the world to adjust itself to him. Therefore all progress is made by unreasonable people.
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The superior man honors his virtuous nature, and maintains constant inquiry and study, seeking to carry it out to its breadth and greatness, so as to omit none of the more exquisite and minute points which it embraces, and to raise it to its greatest height and brilliancy.
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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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I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
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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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Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it. To see it a person only needs to imagine how it could be worse.
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Who heeds not the future will find sorrow at hand.
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Unify your attention. Do not listen with your ears, but with your mind. Do not listen with your mind but with your essence.
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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?
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The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their proper name.
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When wealth is centralized, the people are dispersed. When wealth is distributed, the people are brought together.
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If we don't know life, how can we know death?
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In language clarity is everything.
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There is nothing more visible than what is secret, and nothing more manifest than what is minute.
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If there were one word that could act as a standard of conduct for one's entire life, perhaps it would be 'thoughtfulness.
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We should not be too familiar with the lower orders or with women.
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It is better not to proceed at all than to proceed without purpose.
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When nature exceeds culture, we have the rustic. When culture exceeds nature, we have the pedant.