Philosopher and politician Confucius was regarded as the paragon of Chinese sages during the Spring and Autumn period. Throughout China and East Asia, Confucius’ teachings and philosophy have played a significant role in shaping culture and society. You’ll be wiser after reading quotes from Confucius.
A philosopher, Confucius, emphasized social relationships, justice, kindness, and sincerity in his philosophical teachings, called Confucianism. Confucianism was an integral part of Chinese culture; for Confucians, everyday life was a religious experience. During the Hundred Schools of Thought era, his followers competed successfully with many other schools, only to be suppressed by the Legalists during the Qin Dynasty.
In the new government, after Han defeated Chu after the collapse of Qin, Confucius’ ideas were officially sanctioned. Confucianism was developed into Neo-Confucianism, then New Confucianism in the West during the Tang and Song dynasties.
Traditionally, Confucius is credited with having written or edited many of the Chinese classic texts, including all of the Five Classics, but modern scholars hesitate to attribute specific passages to him. It wasn’t until years after his death that his teachings were collected in the Analects.
Traditions and beliefs in China have much in common with Confucius’ principles. In his filial piety, he recommended family as a basis for an ideal government, urging strong family loyalty, veneration of ancestors, and respect of elders by children and husbands by wives. He advocated the popular principle “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”, the Golden Rule.
60 Most Popular Quotes from Confucius:
1.“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.”
― Confucious
2. “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
― Confucius
3. “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
― Confucious
4. “Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.”
― Confucius
5. “He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.”
― Confucius
6. “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
― Confucius
7. “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
― Confucius
8. “If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.”
― Confucius
9. “Study the past if you would define the future.”
― Confucius
10. “The funniest people are the saddest ones”
― Confucius
11. “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”
― Confucius
12. “To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it.”
― Confucius
13. “Respect yourself and others will respect you.”
― Confucius
14. “The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.”
― Confucius
15. “When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points.”
― Confucius
16. “Silence is a true friend who never betrays.”
― Confucius
17. “You cannot open a book without learning something.”
― Confucius
18. “Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.”
― Confucius
19. “What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.”
― Confucius
20. “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”
― Confucius
21. “The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat.”
― Confucius
22. “Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.”
― Confucius
23. “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.”
― Confucius
24. “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.”
― Confucius
25. “The way out is through the door. Why is it that no one will use this method?”
― Confucius
26. “It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.”
― Confucius
27. “The man of wisdom is never of two minds;
the man of benevolence never worries;
the man of courage is never afraid.”
― Confucius
28. “Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.”
― Confucius
29. “We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.”
― Confucius
30. “It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.”
― Confucius
31. “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”
― Confucius
32. “And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.”
― Confucius
33. “Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.”
― Confucius
34. “If what one has to say is not better than silence, then one should keep silent.”
― Confucius
35. “To be wealthy and honored in an unjust society is a disgrace.”
― Confucius
36. “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; to put the family in order; we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.”
― Confucius
37. “Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.”
― Confucius
38. “Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.”
― Confucius
39. “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”
― Confucius
40. “Don’t do unto others what you don’t want done unto you.”
― Confucius
41. “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. ”
― Confucius
42. “A lion chased me up a tree, and I greatly enjoyed the view from the top.”
― Confucius
43. “In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.”
― Confucius
44. “Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.”
― Confucius
45. “To see what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice.”
― Confucius
46. “The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their proper name.”
― Confucius
47. “The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.”
― Confucious
48. “Time flows away like the water in the river. ”
― Confucius
49. “When a wise man points at the moon the imbecile examines the finger.”
― Confucius
50. “Don’t complain about the snow on your neighbor’s roof when your own doorstep is unclean.”
― Confucius
51. “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.”
― Confucius
52. “The Master said, “A true gentleman is one who has set his heart upon the Way. A fellow who is ashamed merely of shabby clothing or modest meals is not even worth conversing with.”
(Analects 4.9)”
― Confucius
53. “Learning without thought is labour lost; thought without learning is perilous.”
― Confucius
54. “Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know more.”
― Confucius
55. “Consideration for others is the basis of a good life, a good society.”
― Confucius
56. “Tzu Chang asked Confucius about jen. Confucius said, “If you can practice these five things with all the people, you can be called jen.”
Tzu Chang asked what they were.
Confucius said, “Courtesy, generosity, honesty, persistence, and kindness.
If you are courteous, you will not be disrespected;
if you are generous, you will gain everything.
If you are honest, people will rely on you.
If you are persistent you will get results.
If you are kind, you can employ people.”
― Confucius
57. “The Man who says he can, and the man who says he can not.. Are both correct”
― Confucius
58. “Have no friends not equal to yourself.”
― Confucius
59. “Never give a sword to a man who can’t dance.”
― Confucius,
60. “The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”
― Confucius
60 Popular Quotes from Confucius
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