Confucius
Confucius
Confucius was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history...
NationalityChinese
ProfessionPhilosopher
CountryChina
reflection mirrors objects
The mirror reflects all objects without being sullied
punishment expectations gossip
If one leads them with administrative measures and uses punishments to make them conform, the people will be evasive, but if one leads them with virtue, they will come up to expectations.
doors house able
Who expects to be able to go out of a house except by the door? How is it then that no one follows this Way of ours?
lost labor
Learning, undigested by thought, is labor lost.
unlucky omen nations
When a nation or family is about to flourish, there are sure to be happy omens; and when it is about to perish, there are sure to be unlucky omens.
kindness men evil
There are those men who say to repay evil with kindness. But I say, how then are we to repay kindness? Repay kindness with kindness, but repay evil with justice.
voice might remember
Conscience is the inner voice which warns us that someone might be looking. Hear and you forget, see and you remember, do and you understand.
chinese-philosopher
To see the right and not to do it is cowardice.
concerned men
I will not be concerned at other men's not knowing me; I will be concerned at my own want of ability.
chinese-philosopher
I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand.
cultivate earnest employ filial friendship love overflow performance polite respectful time
A youth, when at home, should be filial and, abroad, respectful to his elders. He should be earnest and truthful. He should overflow in love to all and cultivate the friendship of the good. When he has time and opportunity, after the performance of these things, he should employ them in polite studies.
chinese-philosopher excellence
When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself.
below highest subjects whose
To those whose talents are above mediocrity, the highest subjects may be announced. To those who are below mediocrity, the highest subjects may not be announced.
earnest knowledge possession seeking
I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge; I am one who is fond of antiquity, and earnest in seeking it there.