Confucianism Quotes by Confucius

The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come.

— Confucius

If you try to do too much, you will not achieve anything.

— Confucius

If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.

— Confucius

What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.

— Confucius

Isn't it a pleasure to study and practice what you have learned?

— Confucius

Therefore the superior man is watchful over himself, when he is alone.

— Confucius

If you don't know how to serve men, why worry about serving the gods?

— Confucius

To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous.

— Confucius

The man who in view of gain thinks of righteousness; who in the view of danger is prepared to give up his…

— Confucius

They who know the truth are not equal to those who love it, and they who love it are not equal to…

— Confucius

I have not seen a person who loved virtue, or one who hated what was not virtuous. He who loved virtue would…

— Confucius

The superior man has nothing to compete for. But if he must compete, he does it in an archery match, wherein he…

— Confucius

He with whom neither slander that gradually soaks into the mind, nor statements that startle like a wound in the flesh, are…

— Confucius

When you meet someone better than yourself, turn your thoughts to becoming his equal. When you meet someone not as good as…

— Confucius

The gods should certainly be revered, but kept at a distance... . The way is not beyond man; he who creates a…

— Confucius

If a man has no humaneness what can his propriety be like? If a man has no humaneness what can his happiness…

— Confucius

When the Superior Man eats he does not try to stuff himself; at rest he does not seek perfect comfort; he is…

— Confucius

To be fond of learning is to draw close to wisdom. To practice with vigor is to draw close to benevolence. To…

— Confucius

Earnest in practicing the ordinary virtues, and careful in speaking about them, if, in his practice, he has anything defective, the superior…

— Confucius

Study the past if you would define the future. I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge; I…

— Confucius

Great as heaven and earth are, men still find some things in them with which to be dissatisfied. Thus it is that,…

— Confucius

Is virtue a thing remote? I wish to be virtuous, and lo! Virtue is at hand.

— Confucius

Sincerity is that whereby self-completion is effected, and its way is that by which man must direct himself.

— Confucius

There is nothing more visible than what is secret, and nothing more manifest than what is minute.

— Confucius

Without an acquaintance with the rules of propriety, it is impossible for the character to be established

— Confucius

When I walk along with two others, from at least one I will be able to learn.

— Confucius

The superior man is all-embracing and not partial. The inferior man is partial and not all-embracing.

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

The Superior Man is aware of Righteousness, the inferior man is aware of advantage.

— Confucius

In archery we have something like the way of the superior man. When the archer misses the center of the target, he…

— Confucius

The superior man cannot be known in little matters, but he may be entrusted with great concerns. The small man may not…

— Confucius

There is a growing interest in Confucianism in China and other parts of the world. More and more followers of Confucianism are…

— Confucius