230 Quotes by Confucius
Confucius, also known as Kong Fuzi or Kongzi, was an ancient Chinese philosopher, teacher, and political thinker whose profound ideas continue to influence Chinese culture and philosophy to this day. Born in 551 BCE in the state of Lu (present-day Qufu, China), Confucius lived during a time of social and political upheaval. He dedicated his life to seeking harmony and order in society through ethical and moral teachings. Central to his philosophy was the concept of "ren" or "benevolence," emphasizing the importance of compassion, empathy, and kindness towards others. Confucius believed that personal cultivation and moral integrity were essential for creating a harmonious society.
He stressed the significance of filial piety, respect for elders, and the proper conduct of rulers and subjects to ensure social harmony and a just government. His teachings were compiled in the "Analects," a collection of his conversations and ideas recorded by his disciples. Confucianism, the philosophical system based on his teachings, became the cornerstone of Chinese thought and governance for centuries, shaping the country's cultural values, social structure, and education system. Confucius' enduring legacy extends far beyond his lifetime, and his profound wisdom continues to inspire people globally to seek wisdom, cultivate virtue, and contribute positively to the world around them.
Confucius Quotes
It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them. (Meaning)
When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself. (Quote Meaning)
Is it not a pleasure, having learned something, to try it out at due intervals? Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar? Is it not gentlemanly not to take offense when others fail to appreciate your abilities? (Meaning)
To see the right and not to do it is cowardice. (Quote Meaning)
He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good. (Meaning)
When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them. (Quote Meaning)
The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large. (Meaning)
When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves. (Quote Meaning)
To see what is right and not do it is the want of courage. (Meaning)
Ignorance is the night of the mind. (Quote Meaning)
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. (Meaning)
An orchid in a deep forest sends out its fragrance even if no one is around to appreciate it.
It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. (Quote Meaning)
The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.
A great man is hard on himself; a small man is hard on others.
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. (Meaning)
A man is great not because he hasn't failed; a man is great because failure hasn't stopped him.
Don't curse the darkness, light a candle.
If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else.
The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones. (Quote Meaning)
Three things cannot long be hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.
Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.
When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
Keep it simple and focus on what matters. Don't let yourself be overwhelmed.
He who learns but does not think, is lost. He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.
The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat.
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence. (Meaning)
Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.
Happiness does not consist in having what you want, but in wanting what you have
Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.
Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance. (Quote Meaning)
Wherever you go, go with all your heart. (Meaning)
If you chase two rabbits, you catch none.
Silence is a true friend who never betrays. (Quote Meaning)
Yin and yang, male and female, strong and weak, rigid and tender, heaven and earth, light and darkness, thunder and lightning, cold and warmth, good and evil...the interplay of opposite principles constitutes the universe.
Of course you want to be rich and famous. It's natural. Wealth and fame are what every man desires. The question is: What are you willing to trade for it?
The gem cannot be polished without friction nor man without trials.
A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
There is one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one's life -reciprocity.
He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions. (Meaning)
A man without a mustache is a man without a soul.
All the darkness in the world can't put out the light of one candle.
Love others as you would love yourself, judge others as you would judge yourself, cherish others as you would cherish yourself. When you wish for others as you wish for yourself and when you protect others as you would protect yourself, that's when you can say it's true love.
Do not worry if others do not understand you. Instead worry if you do not understand others.
He who cannot describe the problem will never find the solution to that problem.
Cultivate the root; the leaves and branches will take care of themselves.
roads were made for journeys not destinations
To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.
Remember even when alone, that the divine is everywhere.
You judge yourself by what you think you can achieve, others judge you by what have achieved.
Do not wish for quick results, nor look for small advantages. If you seek quick results, you will not reach the ultimate goal. If you are led astray by small advantages, you will never accomplish great things.
Don't let your past determine your destiny.
Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.
To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness. (Quote Meaning)
To take what you know for what you know, and what you do not know for what you do not know, that is knowledge indeed.
Give a bowl of rice to a man and you will feed him for a day. Teach him how to grow his own rice and you will save his life.
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.
Knowledge without practice is useless. Practice without knowledge is dangerous.
He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.
A man who lacks reliability is utterly useless.
A wise man has dignity without pride; a fool has pride without dignity.
Act with kindness but do not expect gratitude.
It is the law of nature that woman should be held under the dominance of man.
There are 1,000 lessons in defeat. But only one in victory.
The mirror reflects all objects without being sullied
Those who cannot forgive others break the bridge over which they themselves must pass.
All people are the same; only their habits differ.
As the water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it, so a wise man adapts himself to circumstances.
We are so busy doing the urgent that we don't have time to do the important.
Do not worry about not holding high position; worry rather about playing your proper role. Worry not that no one knows of you; seek to be worth knowing.
The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their proper name.
Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.
The archer who misses his mark does not blame the target. He stops, corrects himself and shoots again.
Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.
Expect much from yourself and little from others and you will avoid incurring resentments
If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.
Teachers open the door ... you enter by yourself.
If you try to do too much, you will not achieve anything.
In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.
The noble-minded are calm and steady. Little people are forever fussing and fretting. (Meaning)
There are three degrees of filial piety. The highest is being a credit to our parents, the second is not disgracing them; the lowest is being able simply to support them.
If your plan is for one year plant rice. If your plan is for ten years plant trees. If your plan is for one hundred years educate children.
When I am with others, they are my teachers. I can select their good points and follow them, and select their bad points and avoid them.
To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order. (Quote Meaning)
When anger rises, think of the consequences.
The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.
You cannot open a book without learning something.
Being strong does not mean that you never fall down, but that whenever you fall, you get up again.
A good man regards the root; he fixes the root, and ail else flows out of it. The root is filial piety; the fruit brotherly love.
If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?
Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.
What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.
Great is the man who can overcome the world, but greater still is the man who can overcome himself, for he will have the world spinning on the palm of his hand.
The superior person is calm and composed; the lesser person is continuously worried and distressed.
The superior person is in harmony, but does not follow the crowd. The lesser person follows the crowd, but is not in harmony.
If you yourself desire establishment, then help others to get establishment; if you yourself want success, then help others to attain success.
Men do not stumble over mountains, but over mole hills.
The father who does not teach his son his duties is equally guilty with the son who neglects them.
Every truth has four corners: as a teacher I give you one corner, and it is for you to find the other three.
Please stop waiting for a better and more appropriate time to become happy and focus on the moment you live in. Happiness is not an arrival, it is the journey itself. Many people seek for happiness above the height of human beings, some below. Yet, happiness is exactly at the exact height of human beings.
When a person should be spoken with, and you don't speak with them, you lose them. When a person shouldn't be spoken with and you speak to them, you waste your breath. The wise do not lose people, nor do they waste their breath.
A fool despises good counsel, but a wise man takes it to heart.
Every house guest brings you happiness. Some when they arrive, and some when they are leaving
Do not use a cannon to kill a mosquito.
Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.
A man who has committed a mistake and does not correct it is committing another mistake.
A reasonable man adjusts himself to the world. An unreasonable man expects the world to adjust itself to him. Therefore all progress is made by unreasonable people.
The man of wisdom is never of two minds; the man of benevolence never worries; the man of courage is never afraid.
You can cheat an honest man but not make a fool out of him.
The superior man loves his soul; the inferior man loves his property.
Be in harmony, yet be different.
The Gods cannot help those who do not seize opportunities.
To be fond of learning is near to wisdom.
It is better to play than do nothing.
To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness.
When a man is guided by the principles of reciprocity and consciousness, he is not far from the moral law. Whatever you don't wish for yourself don't do unto others.
A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.
Study the past, if you would divine the future.
If you would one day renovate yourself, do so from day to day.
There is only one thing in life which never changes, and it is change.
A workman who wants to do his work well must first prepare his tools.
The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.
The Man who says he can, and the man who says he can not.. Are both correct
If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.
To know what is the right thing to do and not do it is the greatest cowardice.
Be loyal and trustworthy. Do not befriend anyone who is lower than yourself in this regard.
The Master was entirely free from four things: prejudice, foregone conclusions, obstinacy, and egoism.
He who fails to prepare, prepares to fail
The virtuous man is driven by responsibility, the non-virtuous man is driven by profit.
When you are ignorant about something, to know that you are ignorant about it - that is knowledge.
Let our reason, and not our senses, be the rule of our conduct; for reason will teach us to think wisely, to speak prudently, and to behave worthily.
The gentleman calls attention to the good points in others; he does not call attention to their defects. The small man does just the reverse of this.
Man who want pretty nurse, must be patient.
Every journey starts with a single step.
By gaining the people, the kingdom is gained; by losing the people, the kingdom is lost.
Happiness is not at the top of the mountain, but in how to climb.
Everyone eats and drinks; yet only few appreciate the taste of food.
"Don't worry that other people don't know you;
worry that you don't know other people."
The man who loves his job never works a day in his life.
When strict with oneself, one rarely fails.
There are three things to beware of through life: when a man is young, let him beware of his appetites; when he is middle-aged, of his passions; and when old, of covetousness, especially.
A lion chased me up a tree, and I greatly enjoyed the view from the top.
Do not answer the person whose questions are vile. Do not question a person whose answers are vile.
A hammer shatters glass but it also forges steel.
Study the past if you want to define the future.
Rather than caring about whether or not you are known, strive to be worth knowing.
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.
A wise man seeks by music to strengthen his soul: the thoughtless one uses it to stifle his fears.
When you see a worthy person, endeavor to emulate him. When you see an unworthy person, then examine your inner self.
The most beautiful sight in the world is a little child going confidently down the road of life after you have shown him the way.
Give a man a fish, feed home for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed for a lifetime.
Transport a handful of earth everyday and you will make a mountain.
If you shoot for the stars and hit the moon, it's OK. But you've got to shoot for something. A lot of people don't even shoot.
Learn as though you would never be able to master it; hold it as though you would be in fear of losing it.
These are the four abuses: desire to succeed in order to make oneself famous; taking credit for the labors of others; refusal to correct one's errors despite advice; refusal to change one's ideas despite warnings.
To know your faults and be able to change is the greatest virtue.
A gentleman can see a question from all sides without bias. The small man is biased and can see a question only from one side.
An inconvenience is an unrecognized opportunity.
Plan ahead or find trouble on the doorstep.
We can know a person by observing his behaviour, understanding the reasons for his actions and ascertaining his intentions. If we do this, how can we not know him?
Knowledge is merely brilliance in organization of ideas and not wisdom. The truly wise person goes beyond knowledge.
When a wise man points at the moon the imbecile examines the finger.
In old days men studied for the sake of self-improvement; nowadays men study in order to impress other people.
Those who do not study are only cattle dressed up in men's clothes.
Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.
When you see a good person, think of becoming like him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points. (Meaning)
When young, beware of fighting; when strong, beware of sex; and when old, beware of possession.
To be wealthy and honored in an unjust society is a disgrace.
The gentleman has nine cares. In seeing he is careful to see clearly; in hearing he is careful to hear distinctly; in his looks he is careful to be kind, in his manner to be respectful, in his words to be sincere, in his work to be diligent. When in doubt he is careful to ask for information; when angry he has a care for the consequences; and when he sees a chance for gain, he thinks carefully whether the pursuits of it would be right.
Knowledge is recognizing what you know and what you don't.
The Master said, If out of the three hundred songs I had to take one phrase to cover all my teachings, I would say 'Let there be no evil in your thoughts.'
When wealth is centralized, the people are dispersed. When wealth is distributed, the people are brought together.
Table your mistakes, learn from them, then move on.
Sincerity becomes apparent. From being apparent, it becomes manifest. From being manifest, it becomes brilliant. Brilliant, it affects others. Affecting others, they are changed by it. Changed by it, they are transformed. It is only he who is possessed of the most complete sincerity that can exist under heaven, who can transform.
Balance is the perfect state of still water. Let that be our model. It remains quiet within and is not disturbed on the surface.
Don’t complain about the snow on your neighbor’s roof when your own doorstep is unclean.
The tongue must be heavy indeed, because so few people can hold it
Exemplary persons are steadfast in the face of adversity, while petty persons are engulfed by it.
The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions. (Meaning)
Do unto others as you wish others do unto you.
When words lose their meaning, people lose their liberty.
The way you cut your meat reflects the way you live.
Love should start from people close to us, then be extended to other people, to strangers, and eventually to the world
Don't be concerned that you have no position; be concerned how you may fit yourself to occupy one. .
Unify your attention. Do not listen with your ears, but with your mind. Do not listen with your mind but with your essence.
The superior man is quiet and calm, waiting for the appointments of heaven, while the mean man walks in dangerous paths, looking for lucky occurrences.
When people are educated, the distinction between classes disappears.
Wisdom, humanity & courage, these three are universal virtues. The way by which they are practiced are one.
He who learns but does not think, is lost! (Quote Meaning)
If you don't know how to live, why wonder about death?
The person who is not strong enough gives up at the halfway point - but you are limiting yourself before even starting.
What you do not wish upon yourself, extend not to others.
Study as if you have not reached your goal - hold it as if you were afraid of losing what you have.
In antiquity men studied for their own sake; nowadays men study for the sake of impressing others.
He Who Knows And Knows That He Knows Is A Wise Man - Follow Him; He Who Knows Not And Knows Not That He Knows Not Is A Fool - Shun Him
The higher type of man clings to virtue, the lower type of man clings to material comfort. The higher type of man cherishes justice, the lower type of man cherishes the hope of favors to be received.
The general of a large army may be defeated, but you cannot defeat the determined mind of a peasant.
To govern is to correct. If you set an example by being correct, who would dare to remain incorrect?
The small man thinks that small acts of goodness are of no benefit, and does not do them; and that small deeds of evil do no harm, and does not refrain from them. Hence, his wickedness becomes so great that it cannot be concealed, and his guilt so great that it cannot be pardoned.
If language is not correct, then what is said is not what is meant; if what is said is not what is meant, then what must be done remains undone; if this remains undone, morals and art will deteriorate; if justice goes astray, the people will stand about in helpless confusion. Hence there must be no arbitrariness in what is said. This matters above everything.
There is nothing more visible than what is secret, and nothing more manifest than what is minute.
A true gentleman makes demands upon himself but not upon others.
When you locate good in yourself, approve of it with determination. When you locate evil in yourself, despise it as something detestable.
Future generation is the most important thing.
Therefore the superior man is watchful over himself, when he is alone.
If a man keeps cherishing his old knowledge so as continually to be acquiring new, he may be a teacher of others.
The people may be made to follow a path of action but they may not be made to understand it.
A ruthless man extends his ruthlessness from those he does not love to those he loves.
Isn't it a pleasure to study and practice what you have learned?
Clever talk and domineering manner have little to with being a Man at His Best.
The more people know, the more they forgive.
Don't worry about being acknowledged by others; worry about failing to acknowledge them.
Listen widely to remove your doubts and be careful when speaking about the rest and your mistakes will be few. See much and get rid of what is dangerous and be careful in acting on the rest and your causes for regret will be few. Speaking without fault, acting without causing regret: 'upgrading' consists in this.
There has never been a man mean and at the same time virtuous.
Be versed in ancient lore, and familiarize yourself with the modern; then may you become teachers.
Not to converse with a man worthy of conversation is to waste the man. To converse with a man not worthy of conversation is to waste words. The wise waste neither men nor words.
I used to listen to what others said, and expect them to act accordingly. But nowadays, I listen to what they say, and then observe what they do.
If a man in the morning hear the right way, he may die in the evening without regret.
A lack of patience in trifling matters might lead to the disruption of great project.
To become a leader, you must first become a human being
A blemish may be removed from a diamond by careful polishing, but evil words once spoken cannot be effaced.
There are three things against which the wise man guards: lust when young, quarrels when strong, and covetousness when old.
He who is really kind, can never be unhappy
You can successfully force people to follow a certain course, but you cannot force them to understand it.
A man who does not forget an agreement is resolved and honorable man.
Sincerity is the end and beginning of things; without sincerity there would be nothing.
Wisdom is rooted in watching with affection the way people grow.
The superior man is intelligently, not blindly, faithful.
Humankind differs from the animals only by a little and most people throw that away.
To know, is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge. When you say something, say what you know. When you don't know something, say you don't know. That is knowledge.
With a heavy load and a long journey
Even if people do not know what real kindness is, they nonetheless have it within them.
True knowledge is when one knows the limitations of one's knowledge.
When a man feels the difficulty of doing, can he be other than cautious and slow in speaking?
We take greater pains to persuade others that we are happy than in endeavoring to think so ourselves
Care not for want of place; care for thy readiness to fill one. Care not for being unknown, but seek to be worthy of note.
Virtue is not solitary; it is bound to have neighbors
There are cases in which the blade springs, but the plant does not go on to flower. There are cases where it flowers, but no fruit is subsequently produced.
The superior man limits his achievements.
A superior man is one who is free from fear and anxieties
Among us, in our part of the country, those who are upright are different from this. The father conceals the misconduct of the son, and the son conceals the misconduct of the father. Uprightness is to be found in this.
Writing cannot express all words, words cannot encompass all ideas.
A heart set on love will do no wrong.
He who take cookie to bed have crummy night ahead.
The great mountain must collapse, the mighty beam must break and the wise man wither like a plant.
The superior man is easy to serve, but difficult to please. The inferior man is difficult to serve, but easy to please.
― Confucius Quotes
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
