--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Earnest in practicing the ordinary…" description: "\"Earnest in practicing the ordinary virtues, and careful in speaking about them, if, in his practice, he has anything defective, the superior man dares ..." 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… ![“Earnest in practicing the ordinary virtues, and careful in speaking about them, if, in his practice, he has anything defective, the superior man dares not but exert himself; and if, in his words, he has any excess, he dares not allow himself such license.” quote by Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/confucius-164_careful_earnest-in-practicing-the-ordinary-virtu_1748462.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/confucius-164_careful_earnest-in-practicing-the-ordinary-virtu_1748462.jpg) [Open 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 man dares not but exert himself; and if, in his words, he has any excess, he dares not allow himself such license.” [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. A virtuous person must practice humility and restraint, avoiding both deficiency and excess in actions and speech. **In simple terms:** Practice humility, avoid extremes. Key Takeaway Cultivate balanced virtue. Themes humility self‑control virtue communication Mood reflective philosophical Type wisdom ethical When to use this quote - leadership decisions - public speaking - personal development - conflict resolution Key Concepts Confucian ethics moderation self‑improvement Questions to Reflect On - What areas of your life need more balance? - How do you recognize when you’re over‑extending? A Different Perspective Rigid self‑criticism can hinder confidence; flexibility may be needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Careful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careful/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Confucianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confucianism/) [Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dare/) [Defective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defective/) [Earnest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earnest/) [Earnest Practicing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earnest-practicing-1583857/) [Excess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excess/) [Excess Dares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excess-dares-1583858/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [License](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/license/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary/) [Ordinary Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-virtues-1583856/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Superior man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superior-man/) [Superiors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superiors/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues/) [Virtues Careful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues-careful-1583855/) ## Related quotes > [Rely on the ordinary virtues that intelligent, balanced human beings have relied on for centuries: common sense, thrift, realistic expectations, patience, and perseverance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/rely-on-the-ordinary-virtues-that-intelligent-balanced-human-beings/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [The gods should certainly be revered, but kept at a distance... . The way is not beyond man; he who creates a way outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-gods-should-certainly-be-revered-but-kept-at-a-distance-the-way/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-when-resting-in-safety-does-not-forget-that-danger/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-study-and-not-think-is-a-waste-to-think-and-not-study-is-dangerous/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [There is nothing more visible than what is secret, and nothing more manifest than what is minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/there-is-nothing-more-visible-than-what-is-secret-and-nothing-more/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/what-the-superior-man-seeks-is-in-himself-what-the-small-man-seeks-is/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Great as heaven and earth are, men still find some things in them with which to be dissatisfied. Thus it is that, were the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/great-as-heaven-and-earth-are-men-still-find-some-things-in-them-with/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man has nothing to compete for. But if he must compete, he does it in an archery match, wherein he ascends to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-has-nothing-to-compete-for-but-if-he-must-compete-he/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [When the Superior Man eats he does not try to stuff himself; at rest he does not seek perfect comfort; he is diligent in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/when-the-superior-man-eats-he-does-not-try-to-stuff-himself-at-rest/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [If a man has no humaneness what can his propriety be like? If a man has no humaneness what can his happiness be like?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/if-a-man-has-no-humaneness-what-can-his-propriety-be-like-if-a-man/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [They who know the truth are not equal to those who love it, and they who love it are not equal to those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/they-who-know-the-truth-are-not-equal-to-those-who-love-it-and-they/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Is virtue a thing remote? I wish to be virtuous, and lo! Virtue is at hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/is-virtue-a-thing-remote-i-wish-to-be-virtuous-and-lo-virtue-is-at/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Therefore the superior man is watchful over himself, when he is alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/therefore-the-superior-man-is-watchful-over-himself-when-he-is-alone/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Without an acquaintance with the rules of propriety, it is impossible for the character to be established](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/without-an-acquaintance-with-the-rules-of-propriety-it-is-impossible/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [When you meet someone better than yourself, turn your thoughts to becoming his equal. When you meet someone not as good as you are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/when-you-meet-someone-better-than-yourself-turn-your-thoughts-to/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## 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 Careful quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“Only careful political manoeuvring will be able to manage the situation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davan-yahya-khalil/only-careful-political-manoeuvring-will-be-able-to-manage-the/) [Davan Yahya Khalil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davan-yahya-khalil/) > [Be careful. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to the worst Spanish student in the history of the language.” I laughed. “No problemo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/be-careful-i-wouldn-t-want-anything-to-happen-to-the-worst-spanish/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [If I held all the thoughts of the world in my hand, I would be careful not to open it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/if-i-held-all-the-thoughts-of-the-world-in-my-hand-i-would-be-careful/) [Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/) > [Physical beauty is not everything, but the beauty is more careful than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/physical-beauty-is-not-everything-but-the-beauty-is-more-careful-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think about what you do, if you become self-conscious about it, you've got to be very careful. Because I really like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/if-you-think-about-what-you-do-if-you-become-self-conscious-about-it/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [You've got to be careful against classy fighters, especially counter-punchers because if you go for the finish too early, you can end up getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-froch/you-ve-got-to-be-careful-against-classy-fighters-especially-counter/) [Carl Froch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-froch/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [Be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-clement-stone-2/be-careful-the-friends-you-choose-for-you-will-become-like-them/) [W Clement Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-clement-stone-2/) > [A woman who is careful with her words is a gift to all who know her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/a-woman-who-is-careful-with-her-words-is-a-gift-to-all-who-know-her/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I have to be careful to get out before I become the grotesque caricature of a hatchet-faced woman with big knockers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/i-have-to-be-careful-to-get-out-before-i-become-the-grotesque/) [Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/) > [Success is like a mountain in front of you that keeps growing. If you're not careful, it will take up your whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/success-is-like-a-mountain-in-front-of-you-that-keeps-growing-if-you/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [ I just have to deal with it \[injuries\] if and when problems happen. 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Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) [Browse all 2,861 Careful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Earnest in practicing the ordinary virtues, and careful in speaking about them, if, in his practice, he has anything defective, the superior man dares not but exert himself; and if, in his words, he has any excess, he dares not allow himself such license.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Confucius" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/earnest-in-practicing-the-ordinary-virtues-and-careful-in-speaking/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Careful" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/earnest-in-practicing-the-ordinary-virtues-and-careful-in-speaking/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/confucius-164_careful_earnest-in-practicing-the-ordinary-virtu_1748462.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/confucius-164_careful_earnest-in-practicing-the-ordinary-virtu_1748462.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/confucius-164_careful_earnest-in-practicing-the-ordinary-virtu_1748462.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Earnest in practicing the ordinary virtues, and careful in speaking about them, if, in his practice, he has…” — Confucius", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Confucius", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Earnest in practicing the ordinary virtues,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/earnest-in-practicing-the-ordinary-virtues-and-careful-in-speaking/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/earnest-in-practicing-the-ordinary-virtues-and-careful-in-speaking/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```