He was a thinker, political figure, educator, and founder of the Ru School of Chinese thought. Known to the Chinese as Master Kong and to the rest of the world as Confucius, he created a philosophy based on virtue and believed in honesty, respect, sincerity.
Confucius taught that it was not the satisfaction of the senses in the present moment that would bring true happiness, but well-planned actions and the helping of fellow man which mattered most.
(551-479 BCE)
– Confucius Quotes –
A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
~ Confucius
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
~ Confucius
Ability will never catch up with the demand for it.
~ Confucius
Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honors depend upon heaven.
~ Confucius
Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
~ 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
Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
~ Confucius
And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.
~ Confucius
He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.
~ Confucius
If we don’t know life, how can we know death?
~ Confucius
Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.
~ Confucius
Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.
~ Confucius
Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs.
~ 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
An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.
~ Confucius
He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.
~ Confucius
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
~ Confucius
I want you to be everything that’s you, deep at the center of your being.
~ Confucius
I will not be concerned at other men’s not knowing me; I will be concerned at my own want of ability.
~ Confucius
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
~ 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
Heaven means to be one with God.
~ Confucius
Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star.
~ Confucius
If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?
~ 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
Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.
~ 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
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
Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.
~ Confucius
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.
~ Confucius
To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the The essence of knowledge is, having it, to apply it; not having it, to confess your ignorance.
~ Confucius
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.
~ Confucius
I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand.
~ Confucius
To put the world right 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.
~ Confucius
