Confucius Quotes-Everybody knows Confucius. He is considered one of China’s greatest philosophers, a teacher, editor, and a politician. He is known for having been credited in a lot of Chinese texts. His principles and idealisms are mostly founded on Chinese tradition and belief. His words were concerning about family loyalty and respect for elders. He is also known to advocate family being the basis of an ideal government. Let’s look at some of the best Confucius Quotes that we can apply in our daily lives.
Never Impose On Others What You Would Not Choose For Yourself
This quote might sound familiar because Confucius based this principle from the Golden Rule. Similarly, Confucius teaches us that we should not be the ones making decisions for others. We each have our own minds and we each are in our own situations. The decision you make from your perspective might not be the same as in the perspective of the person who should be deciding. Respect others’ judgements because you would want others to respect your judgements too. You don’t others to meddle with your business so don’t do it too.
Short Famous Confucius Quotes.
“The man who says he can, and the man who says he can not… Are both correct.”
“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”
“The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.”
“The journey with a 1000 miles begins with one step.”
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
“You are what you think.”
“Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.”
“All people are the same; only their habits differ.”
“We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.”
“If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.”
“Act with kindness but do not expect gratitude.”
“Worry not that no one knows you; seek to be worth knowing.”
“The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”
“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
“If you don’t want to do something, don’t impose on others.”
“When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”
“The essence of knowledge is, having it, to use it.”
“One joy dispels a hundred cares.”
“Anyone can find the switch after the lights are on.”
“Never give a sword to a man who can’t dance.”
“We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression.”
“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
“Study the past, if you would divine the future.”
“It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.”
“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
“Silence is a true friend who never betrays.”
“I slept and dreamt life is beauty, I woke and found life is duty.”
“They must often change who would remain constant in happiness and wisdom.”
“Don’t complain about the snow on your neighbor’s roof when your own doorstep is unclean.”
“A lion chased me up a tree, and I greatly enjoyed the view from the top.”
“Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.”
“The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”
“Be strict with yourself but least reproachful of others and complaint is kept afar.”
“Roads were made for journeys not destinations.”
“Think of tomorrow, the past can’t be mended.”
“Respect yourself and others will respect you.”
“To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it.”
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”
“By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.”
“Learn as if you were not reaching your goal and as though you were scared of missing it.”
“Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.”
“He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.”
“Those who cannot forgive others break the bridge over which they themselves must pass.”
“Those who know the truth are not equal to those who love it.”
“The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.”
“The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.”
“Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.”
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
“Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.”
“Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.”
“The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest; success only comes later.”
“If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.”
“Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.”
“A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”
“To see the right and not to do it is cowardice.”
Inspirational words of wisdom by Confucius.
“Virtuous people often revenge themselves for the constraints to which they submit by the boredom which they inspire.”
“He who acts with a constant view to his own advantage will be much murmured against.”
“Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.”
“Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs.”
“To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage, or of principle.”
“When anger rises, think of the consequences.”
“To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.”
“I want you to be everything that’s you, deep at the center of your being.”
“The object of the superior man is truth.”
“If we don’t know life, how can we know death?”
“He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.”
“What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.”
“Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?”
“To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness.”
“You cannot open a book without learning something.”
“A gentleman would be ashamed should his deeds not match his words.”
“When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.”
“To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.”
“If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.”
“If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?”
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
“Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.”
“Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.”
“The superior man does not, even for the space of a single meal, act contrary to virtue. In moments of haste, he cleaves to it. In seasons of danger, he cleaves to it.”
“The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.”
“When we see persons of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see persons of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.”
“The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.”
“When a person should be spoken with, and you don’t speak with them, you lose them. When a person shouldn’t be spoken with and you speak to them, you waste your breath. The wise do not lose people, nor do they waste their breath.”
“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.”
“The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability that he has.”
“Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honors depend upon heaven.”
“The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.”
“He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.”
“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.”
“No matter how busy you make think you are you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance
“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.”
“The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.”
“Learn advidly. Question it repeatedly. Analyze it carefully. Then put what you have learned into practice intelligently.”
“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.”
Wheresoever You Go, Go With All Your Heart – Confucius Quotes
When we let others in our lives, we start to become like their puppet. We let them control how to live our lives according to their norms. When we start listening to how others want us to live, we are blinded by what our hearts really want to do. We don’t feel a sense of accomplishment since we lose our own opinion and our identity. But, we can fight it. If we stop letting others dictate us and decide for us, we have more room to do the things that we want. And, when we do these things that our heart desires, we should put our heart and passion into it.
Everything Has Beauty, But Not Everyone Sees It – Confucius Quotes
This might be one of the most beautiful Confucius Quotes. We all have different ways of seeing the world. What’s good for one might be bad for others. Not everyone look at the situation of the society in the same way. Our lifestyle today has cornered us to just continue on trying to survive the harsh world without pausing for a while and see that there is beauty everywhere. The news we see on TV or read on the papers is so full of negativity that we start to lose faith in humanity. But, that’s just what is presented to us. Somewhere out there, there are still beautiful things that remain good and make this world livable. We need to start appreciating these things if we want to change.