Quotes By Confucius

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.

Confucius

CareWorthy

Because the newer methods of treatment are good, it does not follow that the old ones were bad: for if our honorable and worshipful ancestors had not recovered from their ailments, you and I would not be here today.

Confucius

MethodsTreatmentHonorableAncestors

Possessed of courage but devoid of morality, a superior man will make trouble while a small man will be a brigand.

Confucius

CourageMoralitySuperior

A knight whose heart is set upon the Way, but who is ashamed of wearing shabby clothes and eating coarse food, is not worth calling into counsel.

Confucius

HeartFoodCounselWorth...+2

Things have their roots and branches. Affairs have their beginnings and their ends. To know what is first and what is last will lead one near the Way.

Confucius

BeginningsEndsWay

Surely it is the maxim of loving-kindness: Do not unto others that you would not have them do unto you.

Confucius

KindnessLovingMaxim

Listen widely to remove your doubts and be careful when speaking about the rest and your mistakes will be few.

Confucius

ListenCarefulMistakesDoubts...+1

Behave when away from home as though you were in the presence of an honored guest.

Confucius

BehaveHonoredGuestPresence...+1

Employ the people as though you were assisting at an important sacrifice. Then there will be no feelings of opposition to you.

Confucius

EmployOppositionSacrificeFeelings

A father's and a mother's age must be borne in mind; with joy on the one hand, fear on the other.

Confucius

AgeJoyFearMind...+2

I am not bothered by the fact that I am not understood. I am bothered when I do not know others.

Confucius

UnderstoodBotheredFact

If the Superior Man is not serious, then he will not inspire awe in others. If he is not learned, then he will not be on firm ground. He takes loyalty and good faith to be of primary importance, and has no friends who are not of equal (moral) caliber.

Confucius

SuperiorSeriousInspireLoyalty...+6

At fifteen my heart was set on learning; at thirty I stood firm; at forty I had no more doubts; at fifty I knew the will of heaven; at sixty my ear was obedient; at seventy I could follow my heart's desire without overstepping the boundaries of what was right.

Confucius

HeartDesireBoundariesLearning...+3

To give one's self earnestly to the duties due to men, and, while respecting spiritual beings, to keep aloof from them, may be called wisdom.

Confucius

DutiesRespectingSpiritualWisdom...+1

The man of virtue makes the difficulty to be overcome his first business, and success only a subsequent consideration: this may be called perfect virtue.

Confucius

VirtueDifficultyBusinessSuccess...+2

Leaving virtue without proper cultivation; not thoroughly discussing what is learned; not being able to move towards righteousness of which a knowledge is gained; and not being able to change what is not good: - these are the things which occasion me solicitude.

Confucius

VirtueCultivationLearningKnowledge...+3

There are only the wise of the highest class, and the stupid of the lowest class, who cannot be changed.

Confucius

WiseStupidChangeClass

Guide the people by law, subdue them by punishment; they may shun crime, but will be void of shame. Guide them by example, subdue them by courtesy; they will learn shame, and come to be good.

Confucius

GuideLawPunishmentCrime...+5

To show forbearance and gentleness in teaching others; and not to revenge unreasonable conduct - this is the energy of southern regions, and the good man makes it his study. To lie under arms; and meet death without regret - this is the energy of northern regions, and the forceful make it their study. Therefore, the superior man cultivates a friendly harmony, without being weak - How firm is he in his energy!

Confucius

GentlenessTeachingRevengeConduct...+5

The way which the superior man pursues, reaches wide and far, and yet is secret. Common men and women, however ignorant, may intermeddle with the knowledge of it; yet in its utmost reaches, there is that which even the sage does not know.

Confucius

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