--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who merely knows right principles is…" description: "\"He who merely knows right principles is not equal to him who loves them.\" — Confucius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/confucius-164_democracy_he-who-merely-knows-right-principles-is_2085179.jpg" --- # He who merely knows right principles is not equal to him… ![“He who merely knows right principles is not equal to him who loves them.” quote by Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/confucius-164_democracy_he-who-merely-knows-right-principles-is_2085179.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/confucius-164_democracy_he-who-merely-knows-right-principles-is_2085179.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/confucius-164_democracy_he-who-merely-knows-right-principles-is_2085179.jpg) > “He who merely knows right principles is not equal to him who loves them.” [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. Knowing principles isn’t enough; loving them drives true moral action. **In simple terms:** Love principles, not just know them. Key Takeaway Cultivate love for what you believe. Themes morality principles affection Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - education - leadership - personal development - community service Key Concepts ethical commitment inner motivation Questions to Reflect On - How does love deepen your commitment to values? - Can you love a principle you don’t fully understand? A Different Perspective Some argue that love without knowledge can be misguided. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Strength of character is certainly needed to face life in the world and to stand by right principles, especially in the age in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-philippine-duchesne/strength-of-character-is-certainly-needed-to-face-life-in-the-world/) [Rose Philippine Duchesne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-philippine-duchesne/) > [Parents have to instill the right principles in their children, but then it's up to the children to live up to those principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lydon-simonsen/parents-have-to-instill-the-right-principles-in-their-children-but/) [Mary Lydon Simonsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lydon-simonsen/) > [“It is not because the right principles have been violated, that they are to be abandoned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-is-not-because-the-right-principles-have-been-violated-that-they/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [True success is a by-product of following the right principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-success-is-a-by-product-of-following-the-right-principles/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man must not only stand for the right principles, but he must also fight for them. Those who fight for principle can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/a-man-must-not-only-stand-for-the-right-principles-but-he-must-also/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [If you are animated by right principles, and are fully awakened to the true dignity of life, the subject of amusements may be left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thornton-t-munger/if-you-are-animated-by-right-principles-and-are-fully-awakened-to-the/) [Thornton T. Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-t-munger/) > [The principles Donald Trump is focused on are exactly the right principles: more choice, more competition, lower costs, lower premiums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-principles-donald-trump-is-focused-on-are-exactly-the-right/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Marriage equality is coming, and not merely to a theater near you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-brockmann/marriage-equality-is-coming-and-not-merely-to-a-theater-near-you/) [Suzanne Brockmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-brockmann/) > [Have no friends not equal to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/have-no-friends-not-equal-to-yourself/) [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/) > [Equality is the public recognition, effectively expressed in institutions and manners, of the principle that an equal degree of attention is due to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/equality-is-the-public-recognition-effectively-expressed-in/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [We understand the concept of equality, that we all want to be equal. But I think this is absolutely not true. I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krzysztof-kieslowski/we-understand-the-concept-of-equality-that-we-all-want-to-be-equal/) [Krzysztof Kieslowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krzysztof-kieslowski/) > [People may talk about the equality of the sexes! They are not equal. The silent smile of a sensible, loving woman will vanquish ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/people-may-talk-about-the-equality-of-the-sexes-they-are-not-equal/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [It is wrong to use equal language for unequal actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-akinola/it-is-wrong-to-use-equal-language-for-unequal-actions/) [Peter Akinola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-akinola/) > [Although it may be difficult in theory to know what is just and equal, the practical difficulty of inducing those to forbear who can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/although-it-may-be-difficult-in-theory-to-know-what-is-just-and-equal/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) ## 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 Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 11,220 Democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He who merely knows right principles is not equal to him who loves them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Confucius" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/he-who-merely-knows-right-principles-is-not-equal-to-him-who-loves/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Democracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/he-who-merely-knows-right-principles-is-not-equal-to-him-who-loves/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/confucius-164_democracy_he-who-merely-knows-right-principles-is_2085179.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/confucius-164_democracy_he-who-merely-knows-right-principles-is_2085179.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/confucius-164_democracy_he-who-merely-knows-right-principles-is_2085179.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He who merely knows right principles is not equal to him who loves them.” — 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": "He who merely knows right principles...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/he-who-merely-knows-right-principles-is-not-equal-to-him-who-loves/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/he-who-merely-knows-right-principles-is-not-equal-to-him-who-loves/#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 } } ] } ```