Confucius Quotes
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Kong Qiu, or Master Kong as he was known, did not live to see his days of glory. During his lifetime, his views were received with scorn. But that was about two thousand five hundred years ago. A handful of his dedicated followers passed on Confucius' teachings to future generations. After Confucius' death, his followers published his teachings in the book, The Analects of Confucius.
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In a State, pecuniary gain is not to be considered to be prosperity, but its prosperity will be found in righteousness.
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A fool marvels at rare things, but a wise man at common ones.
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Reviewing what you have learned and learning anew, you are fit to be a teacher.
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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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The man who loves his job never works a day in his life.
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For benefits return benefits; for injuries return justice without any admixture of revenge.
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Wealth and rank are what men desire, but unless they be obtained in the right way they may not be possessed. Poverty and obscurity are what men detest; but unless prosperity be brought about in the right way, they are not to be abandoned.
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The superior man governs men, according to their nature, with what is proper to them, and as soon as they change what is wrong, he stops.
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Silence is the true friend that never betrays.
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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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Love of goodness without love of learning degenerates into simple-mindedness. Love of knowledge without love of learning degenerates into utter lack of principle. Love of faithfulness without love of learning degenerates into injurious disregard of consequences. Love of uprightness without love of learning degenerates into harshness. Love of courage without love of learning degenerates into insubordination. Love of strong character without love of learning degenerates into mere recklessness.
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It is better to live in peace than in bitterness and strife.
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If one learns from others, but does not think, one will be bewildered. If, on the other hand, one thinks but does not learn from others, one will be in peril.
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The proper man understands equity, the small man profits.
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Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.
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A man without persistence will never make a good shaman or a good physician.
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Surely it is the maxim of loving-kindness: Do not unto others that you would not have them do unto you.
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There is a growing interest in Confucianism in China and other parts of the world. More and more followers of Confucianism are advocating a deeper study of his philosophies. Confucius' ideals stand true even today. His philosophy on how to be a Junzi or the perfect gentleman is based on the simple ideology of love and tolerance.
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Every house guest brings you happiness. Some when they arrive, and some when they are leaving.
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He who rules by moral force is like the pole star, which remains in place while all the lesser stars do homage to it.
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The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.
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Love is like a spice. It can sweeten your life - however, it can spoil it, too.
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Who contains himself goes seldom wrong.