Confucius (551 B.C. – 479 B.C.) was a Chinese teacher, political theorist and social philosopher, whose teachings deeply influenced East Asian life and thought. Confucianism, the tradition that bears his name, traces itself back to the sayings recorded in the text known as the Analects which remains the traditional source for information about Confucius’ life and teaching. Here are the 50 quotes from Confucius that might just change your life.
- “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” — Confucius
- “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” — Confucius
- “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.” — Confucius
- “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” — Confucius
- “When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.” — Confucius
- “It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.” — Confucius
- “He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.” — Confucius
- “To see what is right and not do it is the want of courage.” — Confucius
- “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.” — Confucius
- “Respect yourself and others will respect you.” — Confucius
- “When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.” — Confucius
- “The superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions.” — Confucius
- “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” — Confucius
- “Silence is a true friend who never betrays.” — Confucius
- “He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.” — Confucius
- “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” — Confucius
- “Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.” — Confucius
- “Study the past if you would define the future.” — Confucius
- “He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.” — Confucius
- “The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.” — Confucius
- “To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.” — Confucius
- “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” — Confucius
- “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.” — Confucius
- “Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star.” — Confucius
- “The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.” — Confucius
- “Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.” — Confucius
- “When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.” — Confucius
- “The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.” — Confucius
- “The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.” — Confucius
- “If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.” — Confucius
- “Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.” — Confucius
- “Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?” — Confucius
- “If you look into your own heart, you find nothing wrong there, what is there to fear?” — Confucius
- “To see the right and not to do it is cowardice.” — Confucius
- “The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.” — Confucius
- “A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.” — Confucius
- “You cannot open a book without learning something.” — Confucius
- “When anger rises, think of the consequences.” — Confucius
- “Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.” — Confucius
- “The cautious seldom err.” — Confucius
- “The superior man is satisfied and composed; the mean man is always full of distress.” — Confucius
- “The object of the superior man is truth.” — Confucius
- “He who will not economize will have to agonize.” — Confucius
- “Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.” — Confucius
- “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” — Confucius
- “If we don’t know life, how can we know death?” — Confucius
- “He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.” — Confucius
- “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” — Confucius
- “Virtuous people often revenge themselves for the constraints to which they submit by the boredom which they inspire.” — Confucius
- “The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest; success only comes later.” — Confucius
