---
title: "4 Earnest Quotes By Confucius"
description: "4 Earnest quotes by Confucius. Plus more from Confucius and more Earnest sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/confucius-164_careful_earnest-in-practicing-the-ordinary-virtu_1748462.jpg"
---

> [Earnest in practicing the ordinary virtues, and careful in speaking about them, if, in his practice, he has anything defective, the superior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/earnest-in-practicing-the-ordinary-virtues-and-careful-in-speaking/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/confucius-164_careful_earnest-in-practicing-the-ordinary-virtu_1748462.jpg)

> [Study the past if you would define the future. I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/study-the-past-if-you-would-define-the-future-i-am-not-one-who-was/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/confucius-164_antiquity_study-the-past-if-you-would-define-the-f_2354549.jpg)

> [The superior man is slow in his words and earnest in his conduct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-slow-in-his-words-and-earnest-in-his-conduct/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/confucius-164_earnest_the-superior-man-is-slow-in-his-words-an_3016345.jpg)

> [The nobler sort of man emphasizes the good qualities in others, and does not accentuate the bad. The inferior does the reverse.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-nobler-sort-of-man-emphasizes-the-good-qualities-in-others-and-2/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf7/confucius-164_accentuate_the-nobler-sort-of-man-emphasizes-the-go_3052544.jpg)

## Other authors on Earnest

## More by Confucius

> [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

> [The superior man is distressed by his want (lack) of ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-distressed-by-his-want-lack-of-ability/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

> [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

> [Better than the one who knows what is right is the one who loves what is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/better-than-the-one-who-knows-what-is-right-is-the-one-who-loves-what/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

> [Knowledge is merely brilliance in organization of ideas and not wisdom. The truly wise person goes beyond knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/knowledge-is-merely-brilliance-in-organization-of-ideas-and-not/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

> [I live in a very small house, but my windows look out on a very large world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/i-live-in-a-very-small-house-but-my-windows-look-out-on-a-very-large/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

> [To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-rule-a-country-of-a-thousand-chariots-there-must-be-reverent/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

> [The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-real-fault-is-to-have-faults-and-not-amend-them/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

> [To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-know-what-you-know-and-what-you-do-not-know-that-is-true-knowledge/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

> [A picture is poem without words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-picture-is-poem-without-words/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

> [Heaven means to be one with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/heaven-means-to-be-one-with-god/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

> [Does Heaven ever speak? The four seasons come and go, and all creatures thrive and grow. Does Heaven ever speak!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/does-heaven-ever-speak-the-four-seasons-come-and-go-and-all-creatures/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

> [To study and at times practice what one has learned, is this not a pleasure?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-study-and-at-times-practice-what-one-has-learned-is-this-not-a/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

> [Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/recompense-injury-with-justice-and-recompense-kindness-with-kindness/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

> [There is only one thing in life which never changes, and it is change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/there-is-only-one-thing-in-life-which-never-changes-and-it-is-change/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

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