Confucius Quotes

The wise never doubt. The Humane never worry. The brave never fear.

To lead an untrained people to war is to throw them away.

What the superior man seeks is in himself what the small man seeks is in others.

The Master said, “The gentleman understands what is right, whereas the petty man understands profit.”(Analects 4.16)

If you expect great things of yourself and demand little of others, you’ll keep resentment far away.

You cannot open a book without learning something.

It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.

He who is concerned only with the purity of his own life ruins the great human relations.

The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does not forget that disorder may come. Thus his person is not endangered, and his States and all their clans are preserved.

The Master said, “What a worthy man was Yan Hui! Living in a narrow alley, subsisting upon meager bits of rice and water—other people could not have borne such hardship, and yet it never spoiled Hui’s joy. What a worthy man was Hui!”(Analects 6.11)

The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest success comes only later.

Wenn man noch nicht den Menschen dienen kann, wie sollte man den Geistern dienen können?

If a craftsman wants to do good work, he must first sharpen his tools.

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

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.

The way of the superior person is threefold; virtuous, they are free from anxieties; wise they are free from perplexities; and bold they are free from fear.

One who never anticipates deceit or expects duplicity, and yet is the first to recognize such things – is that not a sage indeed?

Heaven means to be one with God.

Learn as if you were not reaching your goal and as though you were scared of missing it

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.

Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.

A gentleman is not a pot.

If things far away don’t concern you, you’ll soon mourn things close at hand.

He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.

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

If you want to make a stand, help others make a stand, and if you want to reach your goal, help others reach their goal. Consider yourself and treat others accordingly: this is the method of Humanity.

Naming enables the noble-minded to speak, and speech enables the noble-minded to act. Therefore, the noble-minded are anything but careless in speech.

A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace.

The Master said, “The gentleman does not serve as a vessel.”(Analects 2.12)

To know what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice.

If I raise one corner for someone and he cannot come back with the other three, I do not go on.

We should keep the dead before our eyes, and honor them as though still living

The gentleman understands what is moral. The small man understands what is profitable.

He who wishes to secure the good of others, has already secured his own.

Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.

He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.

The grass must bend when the wind blows across it.

Tsze-kung wished to dispense with the sacrifice of a sheep for the New Moon ceremony. The Master said, "You love the sheep; I love the ceremony.

If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character.If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home.If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nations.When there is order in the nations, there will peace in the world.

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

Learning without thought is labor lost.

Study the past if you would define the future.

To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.

Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.

What can a man do with music who is not benevolent?

To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it.

The Master said, “A true teacher is one who, keeping the past alive, is also able to understand the present.”(Analects 2.11)

Poor food and water for dinner, a bent arm for a pillow – that is where joy resides. For me, wealth and renown without honor are nothing but drifting clouds.

What you do not want others to do to you do not do to others.

The Master is cordial yet stern, awe-inspiring yet not fierce and respectful yet at ease.

Worthy admonitions cannot fail to inspire us, but what matters is changing ourselves. Reverent advice cannot fail to encourage us, but what matters is acting on it. Encouraged without acting, inspired without changing – there’s nothing to be done for such people.

To be wealthy and honored in an unjust society is a disgrace.

When the wind blows,the grass bends.

Wherever you go, go with all your heart.

What you do not want done to yourself do not do to others.

Even when walking in the company of two other men, I am bound to be able to learn from them. The good points of the one I copy, the bad points of the other I correct in myself.

When everyone hates a person, you should investigate thoroughly, and when everyone loves a person, you should also investigate thoroughly.

Words are the voice of the heart.

In worthy teaching, all things are related.

Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.