--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What the superior man seeks is in…" description: "\"What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.\" — Confucius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/confucius-164_character_what-the-superior-man-seeks-is-in-himsel_1177316.jpg" --- # What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small… ![“What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.” quote by Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/confucius-164_character_what-the-superior-man-seeks-is-in-himsel_1177316.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/confucius-164_character_what-the-superior-man-seeks-is-in-himsel_1177316.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/confucius-164_character_what-the-superior-man-seeks-is-in-himsel_1177316.jpg) > “What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.” [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. The superior person looks inward for growth, while the inferior looks outward for validation. **In simple terms:** Self-improvement vs seeking approval from others. Key Takeaway Focus on inner development. Themes self-improvement humility leadership Mood reflective motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - team leadership - mentoring - conflict resolution Key Concepts Confucianism self-reliance Questions to Reflect On - What inner qualities do you need to cultivate? - How do you avoid relying on others' opinions? A Different Perspective External validation can be misleading and hinder authentic progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chinese/) [Confucianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confucianism/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Personal growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-growth/) [Superior man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superior-man/) ## Related quotes > [The superior man cannot be known in little matters, but he may be entrusted with great concerns. The small man may not be entrusted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-cannot-be-known-in-little-matters-but-he-may-be/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The Superior Man is aware of Righteousness, the inferior man is aware of advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-aware-of-righteousness-the-inferior-man-is-aware/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man is all-embracing and not partial. The inferior man is partial and not all-embracing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-all-embracing-and-not-partial-the-inferior-man-is/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [In archery we have something like the way of the superior man. When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns round…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-archery-we-have-something-like-the-way-of-the-superior-man-when/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Earnest in practicing the ordinary virtues, and careful in speaking about them, if, in his practice, he has anything defective, the superior man dares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/earnest-in-practicing-the-ordinary-virtues-and-careful-in-speaking/) [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Possessed of courage but devoid of morality, a superior man will make trouble while a small man will be a brigand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/possessed-of-courage-but-devoid-of-morality-a-superior-man-will-make/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Man seeks his own good at the whole world's cost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-browning/man-seeks-his-own-good-at-the-whole-world-s-cost/) [Robert Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-browning/) > [What does a man seek in this world? A position, or a throne? Man seeks peace of mind and the fear of Almighty God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-hussein-i/what-does-a-man-seek-in-this-world-a-position-or-a-throne-man-seeks/) [King Hussein I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-hussein-i/) > [“for man seeks not so much God as the miraculous”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/for-man-seeks-not-so-much-god-as-the-miraculous/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [The man who seeks to please God is the man who people are pleased with. The man who seeks to please others won't satisfy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-louis-cole/the-man-who-seeks-to-please-god-is-the-man-who-people-are-pleased/) [Edwin Louis Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-louis-cole/) ## 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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But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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. 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