Confucius Quotes

"To see what is right, and not to do it, is want of courage or of principle."
-Confucius in Courage quotes.

"If a man withdraws his mind from the love of beauty, and applies it as sincerely to the love of the virtuous; if, in serving his parents, he can exert his utmost strength; if, in serving his prince, he can devote his life; if in his intercourse with his friends, his words are sincere - although men say that he has not learned, I will certainly say that he has."
-Confucius in Love quotes.

"When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them."
-Confucius

"While the gentleman cherishes benign rule, the small man cherishes his native land. While the gentleman cherishes a respect for the law, the small man cherishes generous treatment."
-Confucius in Respect quotes.

"Tsze-Kung asked, saying, 'Is there one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one's life?' The Master said, 'Is not Reciprocity such a word? What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.'"
-Confucius in Practice quotes.

"He who will not economize will have to agonize."
-Confucius

"While you are not able to serve men, how can you serve spirits [of the dead]?...While you do not know life, how can you know about death?"
-Confucius

"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance."
-Confucius

"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."
-Confucius

"The scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar."
-Confucius in Comfort quotes.

"When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves."
-Confucius

"Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses."
-Confucius in Kindness quotes.

"There are three things which the superior man guards against. In youth...lust. When he is strong...quarrelsomeness. When he is old...covetousness."
-Confucius

"Without an acquaintance with the rules of propriety, it is impossible for the character to be established."
-Confucius in Character quotes.

"Respect yourself and others will respect you."
-Confucius in Respect quotes.

"Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star."
-Confucius in Ignorance quotes.

"Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes. "
-Confucius

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."
-Confucius in Work quotes.

"Do not be desirous of having things done quickly. Do not look at small advantages. Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished."
-Confucius

"Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart."
-Confucius

"It is only the benevolent man who is capable of liking or disliking other men."
-Confucius

"He with whom neither slander that gradually soaks into the mind, nor statements that startle like a wound in the flesh, are successful may be called intelligent indeed."
-Confucius

"It is better to play than do nothing."
-Confucius in Play quotes.

"The people may be made to follow a path of action, but they may not be made to understand it."
-Confucius

"Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it."
-Confucius in Beauty quotes.

"If a man remembers what is right at the sign of profit, is ready to lay down his life in the face of danger, and does not forget sentiments he has repeated all his life when he has been in straitened circumstances for a long time, he may be said to be a complete man."
-Confucius

"The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action."
-Confucius