Confucius Quotes | GloryQuotes

Confucius Quotes About Wisdom

Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.

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

There are three methods to gaining wisdom. The first is reflection, which is the highest. The second is limitation, which is the easiest. The third is experience, which is the bitterest.

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.

Confucius Quotes About Life

The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.

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

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.

If we don't know life, how can we know death?

More Quotes by Confucius

The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.

The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest; success only comes later.

Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

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

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

When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.

Speak the truth, do not yield to anger; give, if thou art asked for little; by these three steps thou wilt go near the gods.

The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.

Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.

He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.

The book salesman should be honored because he brings to our attention, as a rule, the very books we need most and neglect most.

The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.

Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?

In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.

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

Virtuous people often revenge themselves for the constraints to which they submit by the boredom which they inspire.

He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.

Look at the means which a man employs, consider his motives, observe his pleasures. A man simply cannot conceal himself!

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

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.

The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability that he has.

When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself.

The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.

If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.

Study the past, if you would divine the future.

It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.

To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness.

When you know a thing, to hold that you know it, and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it - this is knowledge.

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

The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.

A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.

To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.

You cannot open a book without learning something.

Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.

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.

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.

Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.

Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs.

I want you to be everything that's you, deep at the center of your being.

An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.

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

It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get.

The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.

Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.

Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.

When we see persons of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see persons of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.

The object of the superior man is truth.

Browse 77 quotes attributed to Confucius, listed in the source data as a Chinese Philosopher, organized around themes such as Wisdom, Life, Success. Use the topic links to explore similar quotes, or browse the full author collection in one place.