--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man should demand much from himself…" description: "\"A man should demand much from himself, but little from others. When you meet a man of worth, think how you may attain to his excellence. When you meet ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/confucius-164_demand_a-man-should-demand-much-from-himself-bu_886028.jpg" --- # A man should demand much from himself, but little from… ![“A man should demand much from himself, but little from others. When you meet a man of worth, think how you may attain to his excellence. When you meet an unworthy one, then look within and examine yourself.” quote by Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/confucius-164_demand_a-man-should-demand-much-from-himself-bu_886028.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/confucius-164_demand_a-man-should-demand-much-from-himself-bu_886028.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/confucius-164_demand_a-man-should-demand-much-from-himself-bu_886028.jpg) > “A man should demand much from himself, but little from others. When you meet a man of worth, think how you may attain to his excellence. When you meet an unworthy one, then look within and examine yourself.” [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑improvement is emphasized: hold yourself to high standards, but keep expectations of others modest; learn from both virtuous and flawed people by reflecting inwardly. **In simple terms:** Improve yourself, judge others gently. Key Takeaway Focus on personal growth. Themes self‑improvement humility reflection Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - leadership - mentorship - personal relationships - self‑assessment Key Concepts Confucian ethics personal development Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance self‑demand with compassion for others? - What habits help you reflect constructively? A Different Perspective May overlook others’ contributions or foster excessive self‑criticism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Demand Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand-little-1099866/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Man Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-demand-966198/) [Man Worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-worth/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Meet Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meet-man/) [Meet Unworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meet-unworthy-1099865/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Unworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unworthy/) ## Related quotes > [“One of the easiest ways to dominate a man is to demand something he cannot supply.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/one-of-the-easiest-ways-to-dominate-a-man-is-to-demand-something-he/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [Man cannot demand that others give up their lives to make him happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/man-cannot-demand-that-others-give-up-their-lives-to-make-him-happy/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [I have yet to meet a man as fond of high moral conduct as he is of outward appearances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/i-have-yet-to-meet-a-man-as-fond-of-high-moral-conduct-as-he-is-of/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Society has always seemed to demand a little more from human beings than it will get in practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/society-has-always-seemed-to-demand-a-little-more-from-human-beings/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“Man always gets less than he demands from life; and so little do they demand, that the less than little they get cannot save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/man-always-gets-less-than-he-demands-from-life-and-so-little-do-they/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [I love animals. They give so much to you and demand so little. And you can trust them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/i-love-animals-they-give-so-much-to-you-and-demand-so-little-and-you/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [Society has always to demand a little more from human beings than it will get in practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/society-has-always-to-demand-a-little-more-from-human-beings-than-it/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [It took us three years to even come close to catching up with the demand a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-handler/it-took-us-three-years-to-even-come-close-to-catching-up-with-the/) [Ruth Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-handler/) > [“For this reason the gentleman will employ a man on a distant mission and observe his degree of loyalty, will employ him close at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/for-this-reason-the-gentleman-will-employ-a-man-on-a-distant-mission/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [“You can be with a man for twenty years and never really know who he truly is. Then again, you can meet a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/you-can-be-with-a-man-for-twenty-years-and-never-really-know-who-he/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [“Hell of a sight. She let out a scream and just fell to pieces. Can't say I blame her. Like I said, this sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ritter/hell-of-a-sight-she-let-out-a-scream-and-just-fell-to-pieces-can-t/) [William Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ritter/) > [If you ever meet the man who could take advantage of Isabelle, you’ll have to let me know. I’d like to shake his hand.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-you-ever-meet-the-man-who-could-take-advantage-of-isabelle-you-ll/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [A woman without a man cannot meet a man, any man, of any age, without thinking, even if it's for a half-second, 'Perhaps this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/a-woman-without-a-man-cannot-meet-a-man-any-man-of-any-age-without/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [I want to meet the man who saw a turtle and said, "People will LOVE the ninja version of that."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/i-want-to-meet-the-man-who-saw-a-turtle-and-said-people-will-love-the/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [A good place to meet a man is at the dry cleaner. These men usually have jobs and bathe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/a-good-place-to-meet-a-man-is-at-the-dry-cleaner-these-men-usually/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) ## 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/) [Explore all 1,019 Confucius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## More Demand quotes > [Our times demand the declaration of the world's resources as the common heritage of all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/our-times-demand-the-declaration-of-the-world-s-resources-as-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) [Sheila Kamerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-kamerman/) > [If a person does not listen to the demands of their own spiritual and heart life and insists on a certain program, you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/if-a-person-does-not-listen-to-the-demands-of-their-own-spiritual-and/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [My dogs can't do anything--and what a relief. I don't make any demands of them, and I don't try to shape them or their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chua/my-dogs-can-t-do-anything-and-what-a-relief-i-don-t-make-any-demands/) [Amy Chua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chua/) > [The trouble is. . .that everybody sneers at restrictions and demands freedom, till something annoying happens; then they demand angrily what has become of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-trouble-is-that-everybody-sneers-at-restrictions-and-demands/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [You be greater than your feelings. I don't demand this of you - life does. Otherwise you'll be washed away by feelings. You'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/you-be-greater-than-your-feelings-i-don-t-demand-this-of-you-life/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Christianity does not oppose debauchery and uncontrollable passions and the like as much as it opposes... flat mediocrity, this nauseating atmosphere, this homey, civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christianity-does-not-oppose-debauchery-and-uncontrollable-passions/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [It is an interesting law of romance that a truly strong woman will choose a strong man who disagrees with her over a weak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-is-an-interesting-law-of-romance-that-a-truly-strong-woman-will/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [If we get better our customers will demand we get bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/if-we-get-better-our-customers-will-demand-we-get-bigger/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [If our faith in God is not the veriest sham, it demands, and will produce, the abandonment sometimes, the subordination always, of external helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/if-our-faith-in-god-is-not-the-veriest-sham-it-demands-and-will/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Money should be ones demand and command one should not become slave of money..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/money-should-be-ones-demand-and-command-one-should-not-become-slave/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [Most enjoyable activities are not natural; they demand an effort that initially one is reluctant to make. But once the interaction starts to provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/most-enjoyable-activities-are-not-natural-they-demand-an-effort-that/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Azerbaijan unleashed the war, and was defeated in that war; Azerbaijan asked for truce (including from the Commander of Karabakh's forces) and later started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serzh-sargsyan/azerbaijan-unleashed-the-war-and-was-defeated-in-that-war-azerbaijan/) [Serzh Sargsyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serzh-sargsyan/) [Browse all 3,809 Demand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A man should demand much from himself, but little from others. When you meet a man of worth, think how you may attain to his excellence. 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