Superiors Quotes by Confucius

The superior man loves his soul; the inferior man loves his property.

— Confucius

The superior man is distressed by his want (lack) of ability

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

The superior man limits his achievements.

— Confucius

The superior man is intelligently, not blindly, faithful.

— Confucius

The superior man is slow in his words and earnest in his conduct.

— Confucius

A superior man is one who is free from fear and anxieties

— Confucius

The superior man does what is proper to the station in which he is; he does not desire to go beyond this.

— Confucius

Possessed of courage but devoid of morality, a superior man will make trouble while a small man will be a brigand.

— Confucius

The superior person is calm and composed; the lesser person is continuously worried and distressed.

— Confucius

There are three things which the superior man guards against. In youth ... lust. When he is strong ... quarrelsomeness. When he…

— Confucius

The superior man, even when he is not moving, has a feeling of reverence, and while he speaks not, he has the…

— Confucius

The superior man is quiet and calm, waiting for the appointments of heaven, while the mean man walks in dangerous paths, looking…

— Confucius

The superior man governs men, according to their nature, with what is proper to them, and as soon as they change what…

— Confucius

The superior man is universally minded and no partisan. The inferior man is a partisan and not universal.

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

The superior man, while his parents are alive, reverently nourishes them; and, when they are dead, reverently sacrifices to them. His thought…

— Confucius

It is the way of the superior man to prefer the concealment of his virtue, while it daily becomes more illustrious, and…

— Confucius

The way of the superior man may be compared to what takes place in traveling, when to go to a distance we…

— Confucius

The superior person tries to promote music as a means to the perfection of human culture. When such music prevails, and people's…

— Confucius

The superior man honors his virtuous nature, and maintains constant inquiry and study, seeking to carry it out to its breadth and…

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

The superior person gathers his weapons together in order to provide against the unforeseen.

— Confucius

When superiors are fond of showing their humanity, inferiors try to outstrip one another in their practice of it.

— Confucius

The superior man sets his person at rest before he moves; he composes his mind before he speaks.

— Confucius

The superior man is easy to serve, but difficult to please ... The inferior man is difficult to serve, but easy to please.

— Confucius

A superior man may be made to go to the well, but he cannot be made to go down into it. He…

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

If a superior man abandon virtue, how can he fulfil the requirements of that name?

— Confucius

There are three marks of a superior man: being virtuous, he is free from anxiety; being wise, he is free from perplexity;…

— Confucius

The superior man * * * in regard to his speech * * * is anxious that it should be sincere.

— Confucius

The superior man is anxious lest he should not get the truth; he is not anxious lest poverty should come upon him.

— Confucius

The superior person is in harmony, but does not follow the crowd. The lesser person follows the crowd, but is not in…

— Confucius

The superior man... does not set his mind either for or against anything, he will pursue whatever is right. The superior man…

— Confucius

First and foremost, be faithful to your superiors, keep all promises, refuse the friendship of all who are not like you; and…

— Confucius

The superior man does what is proper to the station in which he is; he does not desire to go beyond this.…

— Confucius

The superior man will watch over himself when he is alone. He examines his heart that there may be nothing wrong there,…

— Confucius