Confucius

Do not be desirous of having things done quickly. Do not look at small advantages. Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.

— Confucius

The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.

— Confucius

The superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions.

— Confucius

When anger rises, think of the consequences.

— Confucius

Mankind differs from the animals only by a little and most people throw that away.

— Confucius

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.

— Confucius

They must change who would be constant in happiness and wisdom.

— Confucius

To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right.

— Confucius

Only the wisest and the stupidest of men never change.

— Confucius

The superior man will watch over himself when he is alone. He examines his heart that there may be nothing wrong there, and that he may have no cause of dissatisfaction with himself.

— Confucius

To be fond of learning is near to wisdom; to practice with vigor is near to benevolence; and to be conscious of shame is near to fortitude. He who knows these three things

— Confucius

When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.

— Confucius

It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.

— Confucius

Don't complain about the snow on your neighbor's roof when your own doorstep is unclean.

— Confucius

If you look into your own heart, you find nothing wrong there, what is there to fear?

— Confucius

To know what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice.

— Confucius

The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.

— Confucius

What you do not want others to do to you, do not do to others.

— Confucius

To go too far is as bad as to fall short.

— Confucius

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

— Confucius

A man who has committed a mistake and doesn't correct it is committing another mistake.

— Confucius

Faithfulness and sincerity are the highest things.

— Confucius

I am not concerned that I am not known, I seek to be worthy to be known.

— Confucius

It is not possible for one to teach others who cannot teach his own family.

— Confucius

The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.

— Confucius

The parents age must be remembered, both for joy and anxiety.

— Confucius

Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honors depend upon heaven.

— Confucius

The wheel of fortune turns round incessantly, and who can say to himself, I shall today be uppermost.

— Confucius

The father who does not teach his son his duties is equally guilty with the son who neglects them.

— Confucius

The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.

— Confucius

The faults of a superior person are like the sun and moon. They have their faults, and everyone sees them; they change and everyone looks up to them.

— Confucius

Not to alter one's faults is to be faulty indeed.

— Confucius

When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.

— Confucius

A fool despises good counsel, but a wise man takes it to heart.

— Confucius

Love thy neighbor as thyself: Do not to others what thou wouldn't not wish be done to thyself: Forgive injuries. Forgive thy enemy, be reconciled to him, give him assistance, invoke God in his behalf.

— Confucius

Have no friends not equal to yourself.

— Confucius

The perfecting of one's self is the fundamental base of all progress and all moral development.

— Confucius

We take greater pains to persuade others we are happy than in trying to think so ourselves.

— Confucius

To be with God.

— Confucius

Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon or star.

— Confucius

Man who stand on hill with mouth open will wait long time for roast duck to drop in.

— Confucius

With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bent arm for a pillow -- I have still joy in the midst of all these things.

— Confucius

Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.

— Confucius

Acquire new knowledge whilst thinking over the old, and you may become a teacher of others.

— Confucius

To know is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge.

— Confucius

The essence of knowledge is, having it, to apply it; not having it, to confess your ignorance.

— Confucius

When you know a thing, to hold that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it--this is knowledge.

— Confucius

If you lead the people with correctness, who will dare not be correct?

— Confucius

Learn as though you would never be able to master it; hold it as though you would be in fear of losing it.

— Confucius

To love a thing means wanting it to live.

— Confucius

Can there be a love which does not make demands on its object?

— Confucius

Consideration for others is the basic of a good life, a good society.

— Confucius

To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.

— Confucius

I want you to be everything that's you, deep at the center of your being.

— Confucius

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.

— Confucius

Study the past if you would divine the future.

— Confucius

To see what is right, and not do it, is want of courage, or of principle.

— Confucius

A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.

— Confucius

In a country well governed poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed wealth is something to be ashamed of.

— Confucius

Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.

— Confucius

When prosperity comes, do not use all of it.

— Confucius

Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?

— Confucius

Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.

— Confucius

He who wishes to secure the good of others has already secured his own.

— Confucius

The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.

— Confucius

Boldness, without the rules of propriety, becomes insubordination.

— Confucius

When nature exceeds culture, we have the rustic. When culture exceeds nature then we the pedant.

— Confucius

He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.

— Confucius

The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.

— Confucius

When you see a worthy person, endeavor to emulate him. When you see an unworthy person, then examine your inner self.

— Confucius

Silence is the true friend that never betrays.

— Confucius

Life is really simple, but men insist on making it complicated.

— Confucius

Sincerity and truth are the basis of every virtue.

— Confucius

We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression.

— Confucius

The superior man is firm in the right way, and not merely firm.

— Confucius

What the superior person seeks is in themselves. What the mean person seeks is in others.

— Confucius

The way of the superior person is threefold; virtuous, they are free from anxieties; wise, they are free from perplexities; and bold, they are free from fear.

— Confucius

If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.

— Confucius

Learning without thought is labor lost. Thought without learning is perilous.

— Confucius

It is man that makes truth great, not truth that makes man great.

— Confucius

Think no vice so small that you may commit it, and no virtue so small that you may over look it.

— Confucius

To be able under all circumstances to practice five things constitutes perfect virtue; these five things are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness and kindness.

— Confucius

The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.

— Confucius

I have never seen a man as fond of virtue as of women.

— Confucius

To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness.

— Confucius

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.

— Confucius

There are three methods to gaining wisdom. The first is reflection, which is the highest. The second is limitation, which is the easiest. The third is experience, which is the bitterest.

— Confucius

Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.

— Confucius

Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know men.

— Confucius

Tsze-Kung asked, saying, is there one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one's life? The Master said, Is not Reciprocity such a word? What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.

— Confucius

Chose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

— Confucius

Do not worry about holding high position; worry rather about playing your proper role.

— Confucius

Worry not that no one knows of you; seek to be worth knowing.

— Confucius

When things are investigated, then true knowledge is achieved; when true knowledge is achieved, then the will becomes sincere; when the will is sincere, then the heart is set right ; when the heart is set right, then the personal life is cultivated; when the personal life is cultivated, then the family life is regulated; when the family life is regulated, then the national life is orderly; and when the national life is orderly, then there is peace in this world.

— Confucius

To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.

— Confucius

Humility is the solid foundation of all the virtues.

— Confucius

Life is a puzzle

— Confucius

The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.

— Confucius

The Master said, "Do not worry because you have no official position. Worry about your qualifications. Do not worry because no one appreciates your abilities. Seek to be worthy of appreciation."

— Confucius

Tzu-yu said, "When mourning gives full expression to grief nothing more can be required."

— Confucius