--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there were one word that could act as…" description: "\"If there were one word that could act as a standard of conduct for one's entire life, perhaps it would be 'thoughtfulness.\" — Confucius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/confucius-164_entire-life_if-there-were-one-word-that-could-act-as_1344341.jpg" --- # If there were one word that could act as a standard of… ![“If there were one word that could act as a standard of conduct for one's entire life, perhaps it would be 'thoughtfulness.” quote by Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/confucius-164_entire-life_if-there-were-one-word-that-could-act-as_1344341.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/confucius-164_entire-life_if-there-were-one-word-that-could-act-as_1344341.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/confucius-164_entire-life_if-there-were-one-word-that-could-act-as_1344341.jpg) > “If there were one word that could act as a standard of conduct for one's entire life, perhaps it would be 'thoughtfulness.” [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. Advocates thoughtfulness as a guiding principle for a life’s conduct. **In simple terms:** Thoughtfulness should guide all actions. Key Takeaway Practice thoughtfulness daily. Themes ethics personal conduct philosophy Mood thoughtful serene Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - decision making - relationships - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts virtue mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What does thoughtfulness look like in daily life? - How can it shape moral decisions? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Entire life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entire-life/) [Thoughtfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughtfulness/) ## Related quotes > [“How can one respect people as members of the human race unless one holds them to a standard of conduct and truthfulness?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dalrymple/how-can-one-respect-people-as-members-of-the-human-race-unless-one/) [Theodore Dalrymple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dalrymple/) > [“IT is not easy—perhaps not even desirable—to judge other people by a consistent standard. Conduct obnoxious, even unbearable, in one person may be readily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/it-is-not-easy-perhaps-not-even-desirable-to-judge-other-people-by-a/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [“humans have a global benchmark-standard of conduct that called humanity”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aditia-rinaldi/humans-have-a-global-benchmark-standard-of-conduct-that-called/) [Aditia Rinaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aditia-rinaldi/) > [“If you try to hold people to your standard of conduct you will go mad with disappointment and grief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/if-you-try-to-hold-people-to-your-standard-of-conduct-you-will-go-mad/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I don't claim any moral or ethical high ground, but I also have chosen not to run for public office. Shouldn't there be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/i-don-t-claim-any-moral-or-ethical-high-ground-but-i-also-have-chosen/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [There's no doubt that what has emerged in the years after 9/11, unlike the situation in Britain, there were practices sanctioned in the U.S.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-alexander/there-s-no-doubt-that-what-has-emerged-in-the-years-after-9-11-unlike/) [Douglas Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-alexander/) > [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/) > [How transcendent is the virtue of the middle conduct! Rare for a long time has been its practice among the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/how-transcendent-is-the-virtue-of-the-middle-conduct-rare-for-a-long/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [If a man be under the influence of anger his conduct will not be correct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/if-a-man-be-under-the-influence-of-anger-his-conduct-will-not-be/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [There is something about saying, 'We always do this,' which helps keep the years together. Time is such an elusive thing that if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-schaeffer/there-is-something-about-saying-we-always-do-this-which-helps-keep/) [Edith Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-schaeffer/) > [“Can anyone be utterly without thoughtfulness? The answer is yes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/can-anyone-be-utterly-without-thoughtfulness-the-answer-is-yes/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Civility means a great deal more than just being nice to one another. It is complex and encompasses learning how to connect successfully and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-m-forni/civility-means-a-great-deal-more-than-just-being-nice-to-one-another/) [P. M. Forni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-m-forni/) > [“Flexibility, like all the Thoughtfully Fit practices, is something you need to work on to improve. Start simple, such as with the outrageous dresser…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darcy-luoma/flexibility-like-all-the-thoughtfully-fit-practices-is-something-you/) Darcy Luoma > [“The emotional ingredients that sustain long-term relationships are kindness, thoughtfulness, and compassion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/the-emotional-ingredients-that-sustain-long-term-relationships-are/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [Yet, it had been Dimitri’s gentleness and thoughtfulness mixed with that deadliness that made him so wonderful. The same hands that wielded stakes with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/yet-it-had-been-dimitri-s-gentleness-and-thoughtfulness-mixed-with/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) ## 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. 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In our newsroom, we have every single nationality, we have every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadah-khanfar/al-jazeera-is-a-representation-of-you-know-diversity-in-the-arab/) [Wadah Khanfar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadah-khanfar/) > [Aggressive and hard-charging women violate unwritten rules about acceptable social conduct. Men are continually applauded for being ambitious and powerful and successful, but women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/aggressive-and-hard-charging-women-violate-unwritten-rules-about/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Be kindly and just in your dealings with your men. Never play favorites. Make them feel that justice tempered with mercy may always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-lejeune/be-kindly-and-just-in-your-dealings-with-your-men-never-play/) [John A. 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We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/the-border-is-varied-depending-on-the-geography-depending-on-the/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [The Icesave matter is complex and it is understandable that the issue has been oversimplified by many. Unfortunately some of the basic facts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-siguroardottir/the-icesave-matter-is-complex-and-it-is-understandable-that-the-issue/) [Johanna Siguroardottir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-siguroardottir/) > [Our First Amendment expresses a far different calculus for regulating speech than for regulating nonexpressive conduct and that is as it should be. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/our-first-amendment-expresses-a-far-different-calculus-for-regulating/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [If a man be under the influence of anger his conduct will not be correct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/if-a-man-be-under-the-influence-of-anger-his-conduct-will-not-be/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [“Sheel (the highest state of conduct in worldly interaction) is where not even an iota of a wrong intent arises within.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/sheel-the-highest-state-of-conduct-in-worldly-interaction-is-where/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Man has long found solace in good talk to offset bad conduct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/man-has-long-found-solace-in-good-talk-to-offset-bad-conduct/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [Whence do I get my rules of conduct? I find them in my heart. Whatever I feel to be good is good. Whatever I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/whence-do-i-get-my-rules-of-conduct-i-find-them-in-my-heart-whatever/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [We shall use the terms morality, behavior, conduct, or constructive action in the same broad way. It may sound strange to speak of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-patten/we-shall-use-the-terms-morality-behavior-conduct-or-constructive/) William Patten > [The first step in freeing yourself from social restrictions is the realization that there is no such thing as a safe code of conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/the-first-step-in-freeing-yourself-from-social-restrictions-is-the/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) Browse all 465 Conduct quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If there were one word that could act as a standard of conduct for one's entire life, perhaps it would be 'thoughtfulness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Confucius" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/if-there-were-one-word-that-could-act-as-a-standard-of-conduct-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conduct" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/if-there-were-one-word-that-could-act-as-a-standard-of-conduct-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/confucius-164_entire-life_if-there-were-one-word-that-could-act-as_1344341.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/confucius-164_entire-life_if-there-were-one-word-that-could-act-as_1344341.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/confucius-164_entire-life_if-there-were-one-word-that-could-act-as_1344341.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If there were one word that could act as a standard of conduct for one's entire life, perhaps it would be…” — 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": "If there were one word that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/if-there-were-one-word-that-could-act-as-a-standard-of-conduct-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/if-there-were-one-word-that-could-act-as-a-standard-of-conduct-for/#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 } } ] } ```