Quotes from Confucius

He who does not understand the will of Heaven cannot be regarded as a gentleman. He who does not know the rites cannot take his stand. He who does not understand words, cannot understand people.

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

We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression.

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.

The knight of the Way who thinks only of sitting quietly at home is not worthy to be called a knight.

I for my part have never yet seen one who really cared for Goodness, nor one who really abhorred wickedness. One who really cared for Goodness would never let any other consideration come first. One who abhorred wickedness would be so constantly doing Good that wickedness would never have a chance to get at him.

Do not be too ready to speak of it [Goodness], lest the doing of it should prove to be beyond your powers.

To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.

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

You are there to rule, not to slay. If you desire what is good, the people will at once be good. The essence of the gentleman is that of wind; the essence of small people is that of grass. And when a wind passes over the grass, it cannot choose but bend.

A man who does not plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.

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.

Do not use a cannon to kill a mosquito.

Drum sei kein schellenlauter Tor, denn rechter Sinn und Weisheit tragen sich von selber vor.

Everyone has a beauty, but not every one sees it

He does not preach what he practices till he has practiced what he preaches.

He who merely knows right principles is not equal to him who loves them.

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.

Learn as though you would never be able to master it; hold it as though you would be in fear of losing it.

Men's natures are alike, it is their habits that carry them far apart.

Silence is a friend who will never betray.

The determined scholar and the man of virtue will not seek to live at the expense of injuring their virtue. They will even sacrifice their lives to preserve their virtue complete.

The faults of a superior person are like the sun and moon. They have their faults, and everyone sees them; they change and everyone looks up to them.

The man of virtue makes the difficulty to be overcome his first business, and success only a subsequent consideration.