Confucius Quotes

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.

Ability will never catch up with the demand for it.

An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.

And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.

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.

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

Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honors depend upon heaven.Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.

Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.

Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs.

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.

He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger. He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.

Heaven means to be one with God. I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand. I will not be concerned at other men's not knowing me;I will be concerned at my own want of ability. 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.

If we don't know life, how can we know death?If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?

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

Instead of being concerned that you have no office, be concerned to think how you may fit yourself for office. Instead of being concerned that you are not known, see to the (be?) worthy of being known.

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

It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get.

It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.

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

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

Look at the means which a man employs, consider his motives, observe his pleasures.A man simply cannot conceal himself!

Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than theyself.

Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.

No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.

Old age, believe me, is a good and pleasant thing. It is true you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator.

One atom of the plane where He functions would shatter the world.

Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.

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

Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.

Silence is a true friend who never betrays.

Study the past, if you would divine the future.

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

The book salesman should be honored because he brings to our attention, as a rule, the very books we need most and neglect most.

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

The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.

The object of the superior man is truth.

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

The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability that he has.

The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions. The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest; success only comes later. The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort. The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.