Confucius Quotes

The Master is cordial yet stern, awe-inspiring yet not fierce and respectful yet at ease.

~ Confucius

If you look at their intentions, examine their motives, and scrutinize what brings them contentment – how can people hide who they are? How can they hide who they really are?

~ Confucius

Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.

~ Confucius

The scholar does not consider gold and jade to be precious treasures, but loyalty and good faith.

~ Confucius

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

~ Confucius

A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do we know that his future will not be equal to our present?

~ Confucius

Respect yourself and others will respect you.

~ Confucius

The noble-minded encourage what is beautiful in people and discourage what is ugly in them. Little people do just the opposite.

~ Confucius

A gentleman is not a pot.

~ Confucius

The Master said, “A true gentleman is one who has set his heart upon the Way. A fellow who is ashamed merely of shabby clothing or modest meals is not even worth conversing with.”(Analects 4.9)

~ Confucius

The Master said, “If your conduct is determined solely by considerations of profit you will arouse great resentment.

~ Confucius

The Master said, “The gentleman understands what is right, whereas the petty man understands profit.”(Analects 4.16)

~ Confucius

The Master said, “Wealth and honor are things that all people desire, and yet unless they are acquired in the proper way I will not abide them. Poverty and disgrace are things that all people hate, and yet unless they are avoided in the proper way I will not despise them. “If the gentleman abandons ren, how can he be worthy of that name? The gentleman does not violate ren even for the amount of time required to eat a meal. Even in times of urgency or distress, he does not depart from it.”(Analects 4.5)

~ Confucius

The Master said, “The gentleman does not serve as a vessel.”(Analects 2.12)

~ Confucius

Lead the people with administrative injunctions and put them in their place with penal law, and they will avoid punishments but will be without a sense of shame. Lead them with excellence and put them in their place through roles and ritual practices, and in addition to developing a sense of shame, they will order themselves harmoniously

~ Confucius

He who is concerned only with the purity of his own life ruins the great human relations.

~ Confucius

When everyone hates a person, you should investigate thoroughly, and when everyone loves a person, you should also investigate thoroughly.

~ Confucius

The Master said, I have not seen a person who loved virtue, or onewho hated what was not virtuous. He who loved virtue, would esteemnothing above it. He who hated what is not virtuous, would practicevirtue in such a way that he would not allow anything that is notvirtuous to approach his person.Is any one able for one day to apply his strength to virtue? I havenot seen the case in which his strength would be insufficient.Should there possibly be any such case, I have not seen it.

~ Confucius

In following the Way, the noble-minded treasure three things: a manner free of violence and arrogance, a countenance full of sincerity and trust, a voice free of vulgarity and impropriety.

~ Confucius

Worthy admonitions cannot fail to inspire us, but what matters is changing ourselves. Reverent advice cannot fail to encourage us, but what matters is acting on it. Encouraged without acting, inspired without changing – there’s nothing to be done for such people.

~ Confucius

Lord Chi Wen thought three times before taking any action. When the Master heard this, he said: Twice is plenty enough.

~ 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

The Master said of Gong Yechang, “He is marriageable. Although he was once imprisoned and branded as a criminal, he was in fact innocent of any crime.” The Master gave him his daughter in marriage.(Analects 5.1)

~ Confucius

Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.

~ Confucius

A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace.

~ Confucius

Poor food and water for dinner, a bent arm for a pillow – that is where joy resides. For me, wealth and renown without honor are nothing but drifting clouds.

~ Confucius

Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.

~ Confucius

Clever talk, ingratiating looks, fawning reverence: Tso-ch’iu Ming found that shameful, and so do I. Friendly while harboring resentment: Tso-ch’iu Ming found that shameful, too, and so do I.

~ Confucius

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

~ Confucius

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

~ Confucius

It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.

~ Confucius

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

~ Confucius

To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men; and the employment of the people at the proper seasons.

~ Confucius

Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.

~ Confucius

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

~ Confucius

A youth, when at home, should be filial and, abroad, respectful to his elders. He should be earnest and truthful. He should overflow in love to all and cultivate the friendship of the good. When he has time and opportunity, after the performance of these things, he should employ them in polite studies.

~ Confucius

The superior man does not, even for the space of a single meal, act contrary to virtue. In moments of haste, he cleaves to it. In seasons of danger, he cleaves to it.

~ Confucius

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

~ Confucius

I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand.

~ Confucius

If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.

~ Confucius