Confucius Quotes
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To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order; we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.
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It is better to live in peace than in bitterness and strife.
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The administration of government lies in getting proper men. Such men are to be got by means of the ruler's own character. That character is to be cultivated by his treading in the ways of duty. And the treading those ways of duty is to be cultivated by the cherishing of benevolence.
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A father's and a mother's age must be borne in mind; with joy on the one hand, fear on the other.
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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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When three persons work together, each can be the teacher in some aspects.
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Love is like a spice. It can sweeten your life - however, it can spoil it, too.
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Of neighborhoods, benevolence is the most beautiful. How can the man be considered wise who when he had the choice does not settle in benevolence.
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Everyone calls his son his son, whether he has talents or has not talents.
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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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To be wealthy and honored in an unjust society is a disgrace.
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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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Fix your mind on truth, hold firm to virtue, rely on loving kindness, and find your recreation in the Arts.
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Don't worry that other people don't know you; worry that you don't know other people.
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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.
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Is there any one maxim which ought to be acted upon throughout one's whole life? Surely the maxim of loving kindness is such: Do not unto others what you would not they should do unto you.
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If you would govern a state of a thousand chariots (a small-to-middle-size state), you must pay strict attention to business, be true to your word, be economical in expenditure and love the people.
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To know everything is to know nothing, but to know nothing is to know everything.
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There are three friendships which are advantageous, and three which are injurious. Friendship with the upright; friendship with the sincere; and friendship with the man of much observation: these are advantageous. Friendship with the man of specious airs; friendship with the insinuatingly soft; and friendship with the glib-tongued: these are injurious.
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A man should practice what he preaches, but a man should also preach what he practices.
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Justice is like the north star, which is fixed, and all the rest revolve about it.
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Good people strengthen themselves ceaselessly.
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The Master said, The case is like that of someone raising a mound. If he stops working, the fact that it perhaps needed only one more basketful makes no difference; I stay where I am. Whereas even if he has not got beyond leveling the ground, but is still at work, the fact that he has only tilted one basketful of earth makes no difference. I go to help him.
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Have no friends not equal to yourself.