Confucius, the famous writer and philosopher, left behind many words of wisdom. Here are some of his best quotes on everything from kindness to success to humility…
What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.
–Confucius
Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.
–Confucius
The cautious seldom err.
–Confucius
The determined scholar and the man of virtue will not seek to live at the expense of injuring their virtue. They will even sacrifice their lives to preserve their virtue complete.
–Confucius
The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.
–Confucius
The man of virtue makes the difficulty to be overcome his first business, and success only a subsequent consideration.
–Confucius
The man who in view of gain thinks of righteousness; who in the view of danger is prepared to give up his life; and who does not forget an old agreement however far back it extends – such a man may be reckoned a complete man.
–Confucius
The people may be made to follow a path of action, but they may not be made to understand it.
–Confucius
The scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.
–Confucius
The superior man cannot be known in little matters, but he may be entrusted with great concerns. The small man may not be entrusted with great concerns, but he may be known in little matters.
–Confucius
I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge; I am one who is fond of antiquity, and earnest in seeking it there.
–Confucius
With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow – I have still joy in the midst of these things. Riches and honors acquired by unrighteousness are to me as a floating cloud.
–Confucius
The superior man is satisfied and composed; the mean man is always full of distress.
–Confucius
The superior man…does not set his mind either for anything, or against anything; what is right he will follow.
–Confucius
There are three things which the superior man guards against. In youth…lust. When he is strong…quarrelsomeness. When he is old…covetousness.
–Confucius
Things that are done, it is needless to speak about…things that are past, it is needless to blame.
–Confucius
To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue…[They are] gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.
–Confucius
To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.
–Confucius
Virtue is more to man than either water or fire. I have seen men die from treading on water and fire, but I have never seen a man die from treading the course of virtue.
–Confucius
Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.
–Confucius
What the superior man seeks is in himself. What the mean man seeks is in others.
–Confucius
When a man’s knowledge is sufficient to attain, and his virtue is not sufficient to enable him to hold, whatever he may have gained, he will lose again.
–Confucius
When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.
–Confucius
When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.
–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
Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.
–Confucius
Without an acquaintance with the rules of propriety, it is impossible for the character to be established.
–Confucius
[The superior man] acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his actions.
–Confucius
While you are not able to serve men, how can you serve spirits [of the dead]?…While you do not know life, how can you know about death?
–Confucius
Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.
–Confucius
Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.
–Confucius
Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.
–Confucius
Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it.
–Confucius
He who will not economize will have to agonize.
–Confucius
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
–Confucius
It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.
–Confucius
Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star.
–Confucius
Men’s natures are alike, it is their habits that carry them far apart.
–Confucius
He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.
–Confucius
He with whom neither slander that gradually soaks into the mind, nor statements that startle like a wound in the flesh, are successful may be called intelligent indeed.
–Confucius
Study the past if you would define the future.
–Confucius
The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does not forget that disorder may come. Thus his person is not endangered, and his States and all their clans are preserved.
–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
To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.
–Confucius
To see what is right, and not to do it, is want of courage or of principle.
–Confucius
What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.
–Confucius
When anger rises, think of the consequences.
–Confucius
When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.
–Confucius
Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.
–Confucius
They must often change who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.
–Confucius
By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.
–Confucius
Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue.
–Confucius
Have no friends not equal to yourself.
–Confucius
He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.
–Confucius
The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
–Confucius
Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.
–Confucius
I have not seen a person who loved virtue, or one who hated what was not virtuous. He who loved virtue would esteem nothing above it.
–Confucius
Respect yourself and others will respect you.
–Confucius
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