50 Of The Best Confucius Quotes
Confucius was a Chinese philospher who was an advocate for personal morality, justice, kindness and sincerity. He believed in strong family loyalty, and the respect of elders by their children. The philosophy of Confucius is known as Confucianism. Listed below are 50 of Confucius best quotes of all time.
“There are three methods to gaining wisdom. The first is reflection, which is the highest. The second is limitation, which is the easiest. The third is experience, which is the bitterest.”
“What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.”
“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”
“They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.”
“We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression.”
“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”
“To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.”
“Virtuous people often revenge themselves for the constraints to which they submit by the boredom which they inspire.”
“Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honors depend upon heaven.”
“If we don’t know life, how can we know death?”
“To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.”
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
“Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.”
“I want you to be everything that’s you, deep at the center of your being.”
“Study the past, if you would divine the future.”
“The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.”
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
“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.”
“Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.”
“To those whose talents are above mediocrity, the highest subjects may be announced. To those who are below mediocrity, the highest subjects may not be announced.”
“To see the right and not to do it is cowardice.”
“Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.”
“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.”
“To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness.”
“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.”
“I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand.”
“The faults of a superior person are like the sun and moon. They have their faults, and everyone sees them; they change and everyone looks up to them.”
“The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.”
“If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?”
“Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.”
“When anger rises, think of the consequences.”
“The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”
“Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs.”
“Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.”
“It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.”
“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.”
“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
“How to play music may be known. At the commencement of the piece, all the parts should sound together. As it proceeds, they should be in harmony while severally distinct and flowing without break, and thus on to the conclusion.”
“To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.”
“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.”
“Silence is a true friend who never betrays.”
“When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself.”
“To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.”
“To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage, or of principle.”
“When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”
“When we see persons of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see persons of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.”
“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
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