Confucius

Find the best quotes, maxims and aphorisms of Confucius

Biography : Confucius (Kong Qiu, courtesy name Zhongni), a Spring and Autumn period Chinese philosopher, is the paragon of sages whose teachings shaped Chinese civilization and the Sinosphere's cultural heritage.
Born: -551 - Died: -479
Period:
5th century BC
6th century BC
Place of birth: China
China

China

Confucius - Quotes

If, because a man's discourse appears solid and sincere, we allow him to be a good man, is he really a superior man? or is his gravity only in appearance?
Confucius - Analects /

virtue

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 - Analects /

It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.
Confucius /

light

A scholar must be strong and resolute, for his burden is heavy, and his journey is long.
Confucius - Analects /

When a man may be spoken with, not to speak to him is to err in reference to the man.
Confucius - Analects /

If we don't know life, how can we know death?
Confucius /

life

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
Confucius /

When anger rises, think of the consequences.
Confucius /

anger

The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.
Confucius /

Study the past, if you would divine the future.
Confucius /

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

Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.
Confucius /

The object of the superior man is truth.
Confucius /

truth

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.
Confucius /

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.
Confucius /

Speak the truth, do not yield to anger give, if thou art asked for little by these three steps thou wilt go near the gods.
Confucius /

truth

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 /

Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honors depend upon heaven.
Confucius /

Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.
Confucius /

courage

It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.
Confucius /

friendship

Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.
Confucius /

courage

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

difficulty

An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.
Confucius /

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.
Confucius /

Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.
Confucius /

success

If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.
Confucius /

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
Confucius /

life

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
Confucius /

life

When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.
Confucius /

I will not be concerned at other men's not knowing meI will be concerned at my own want of ability.
Confucius /