Quotes from Confucius

If one should desire to know whether a kingdom is well governed, if its morals are good or bad, the quality of its music will furnish the answer.

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

He Who Knows And Knows That He Knows Is A Wise Man - Follow Him; He Who Knows Not And Knows Not That He Knows Not Is A Fool - Shun Him

Knowledge is merely brilliance in organization of ideas and not wisdom. The truly wise person goes beyond knowledge.

Fix your mind on truth, hold firm to virtue, rely on loving kindness, and find your recreation in the Arts.

Settle one difficulty, and you keep a hundred away.

The green reed which bends in the wind is stronger than the mighty oak which breaks in a storm.

No lake so still but it has its wave. No circle so perfect but that it has its blur. I would change things for you if I could; As I can't you must take them as they are.

If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?

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.

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

You will never know how sharp a sword is unless it's drawn from its sheath

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

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

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.

Wherever you go, go with all your heart.

One joy dispels a hundred cares.

A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do we know that his future will not be equal to our present?

Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.

The scholar does not consider gold and jade to be precious treasures, but loyalty and good faith.

If there were one word that could act as a standard of conduct for one's entire life, perhaps it would be 'thoughtfulness.

If you don't want to do something,don't impose on others

At fifteen I set my heart upon learning. At thirty, I had planted my feet firm upon the ground. At forty, I no longer suffered from perplexities. At fifty, I knew what were the biddings of Heaven. At sixty, I heard them with docile ear. At seventy, I could follow the dictates of my own heart; for what I desired no longer overstepped the boundaries of right.

he who will not economize will have to agonize