Famous Quotes & Sayings

Confucius

Even in killing men, observe the rules of propriety.

Confucius

Do not use a cannon to kill a mosquito.

Confucius

By the ruler's cultivation of his own character there is set up the example of the course which all should pursue.

Confucius

Man is born for uprightness. If a man lose his uprightness and yet live, his escape from death is mere good fortune.

Confucius

The virtuous will be sure to speak uprightly; but those whose speech is upright may not be virtuous.

Confucius

While you are not able to serve men, how can you serve spirits of the dead...While you do not know life, how can you know about death

Confucius

Virtue is not solitary; it is bound to have neighbors

Confucius

There is the love of knowing without the love of learning; the beclouding here leads to dissipation of mind.

Confucius

The path may not be left for an instant. If it could be left, it would not be the path.

Confucius

Worry not that no one knows you; seek to be worth knowing.

Confucius

To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage, or of principle.

Confucius

People with virtue must speak out; People who speak are not all virtuous.

Confucius

Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.

Confucius

Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know more.

Confucius

I saw some piglets suckling their dead mother. After a short while they shuddered and went away. They had sensed that she could no longer see them and that she wasn't like them any more. What they loved in their mother wasn't her body, but whatever it was that made her body live.

Confucius

He who works for his own interests will arouse much animosity

Confucius

He who is really kind, can never be unhappy

Confucius

I have not seen one who loves virtue as he loves beauty.

Confucius

Love of goodness without love of learning degenerates into simple-mindedness. Love of knowledge without love of learning degenerates into utter lack of principle. Love of faithfulness without love of learning degenerates into injurious disregard of consequences. Love of uprightness without love of learning degenerates into harshness. Love of courage without love of learning degenerates into insubordination. Love of strong character without love of learning degenerates into mere recklessness.

Confucius

To know it is not as good as to love it, and to love it is not as good as to take delight in it.

Confucius

He who remembers from day to day what he has yet to learn, and from month to month what he has learned already, may be said to have a love of learning.

Confucius

It cannot be when the root is neglected that what springs from it will be well ordered.

Confucius

Heaven means to be one with God.

Confucius

By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.

Confucius

Men's natures are alike; it is their habits that separate them.

Confucius

To govern is to correct. If you set an example by being correct, who would dare remain incorrect?

Confucius

It is only the very wisest and the very stupidest who cannot change.

Confucius

The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.

Confucius

When superiors are fond of showing their humanity, inferiors try to outstrip one another in their practice of it.

Confucius

Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.

Confucius

They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.

Confucius

The funniest people are the saddest once

Confucius

Wealth and rank are what people desire, but unless they are obtained in the right way they may not be possessed.