Confucius Quotes
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When there are duties to perform [true] servants and sons serve their labors.
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The mirror reflects all objects without being sullied.
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If I hold up one corner of a square and the student cannot workout the other three for himself, I won't go any further.
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The cautious seldom err.
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Settle one difficulty, and you keep a hundred away.
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If you devote your life to seeking revenge, first dig two graves.
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Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.
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Every truth has four corners: as a teacher I give you one corner, and it is for you to find the other three.
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The superior man is intelligently, not blindly, faithful.
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It's only in winter that the pine and cypress are known to be evergreens.
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True goodness springs from a man's own heart. All men are born good.
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If a man is respectful he will not be treated with insolence. If he is tolerant he will win the multitude. If he is trustworthy in word his fellow men will entrust him with responsibility. If he is quick he will achieve results.
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When the wind blows,the grass bends.
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The proper man understands equity, the small man profits.
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True knowledge is when one knows the limitations of one's knowledge.
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Don’t complain about the snow on your neighbor’s roof when your own doorstep is unclean.
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When abroad, behaveto everyone as if interviewing an honored guest; in directing the people, act as if you were assisting at a great sacrafice; DO NOT DO TO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD NOT LIKE DONE TO YOURSELF: so there will be no murmuring against you in the country, and none in the family; your public life will arouse no ill-will nor your private life any resentment.
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A fool marvels at rare things, but a wise man at common ones.
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A man without persistence will never make a good shaman or a good physician.
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These are the four abuses: desire to succeed in order to make oneself famous; taking credit for the labors of others; refusal to correct one's errors despite advice; refusal to change one's ideas despite warnings.
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It is better to live in peace than in bitterness and strife.
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First there must be order and harmony within your own mind. Then this order will spread to your family, then to the community, and finally to your entire kingdom. Only then can you have peace and harmony.
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The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.
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Tzu Chang asked Confucius about jen. Confucius said, "If you can practice these five things with all the people, you can be called jen." Tzu Chang asked what they were. Confucius said, "Courtesy, generosity, honesty, persistence, and kindness. If you are courteous, you will not be disrespected; if you are generous, you will gain everything. If you are honest, people will rely on you. If you are persistent you will get results. If you are kind, you can employ people.