Quotes by Confucius

Naming enables the noble-minded to speak, and speech enables the noble-minded to act. Therefore, the noble-minded are anything but careless in speech.

Language is insight itself.

At fifteen I set my heart upon learning. At thirty, I had planted my feet firm upon the ground. At forty, I no longer suffered from perplexities. At fifty, I knew what were the biddings of Heaven. At sixty, I heard them with docile ear. At seventy, I could follow the dictates of my own heart; for what I desired no longer overstepped the boundaries of right.

When the Master entered the great temple he asked about everything. Someone said, ‘Who will say that this son of the man of Zou knows about ritual? When he enters the temple, he asks about everything’. The Master heard of it and said, ‘This is the ritual’.

If I raise one corner for someone and he cannot come back with the other three, I do not go on.

Even when walking in the company of two other men, I am bound to be able to learn from them. The good points of the one I copy, the bad points of the other I correct in myself.

It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.

To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it.

He who searches for evil, must first look at his own reflection.

cautiously, you avoid trouble. See all that you can – then, if you forget the perilous and

Tsze-kung wished to dispense with the sacrifice of a sheep for the New Moon ceremony. The Master said, You love the sheep; I love the ceremony.

Ji Wenzi always thought thrice before acting. Hearing this the Master said, Twice is enough.

For this reason the gentleman will employ a man on a distant mission and observe his degree of loyalty, will employ him close at hand and observe his degree of respect. He will hand him troublesome affairs and observe how well he manages them, will suddenly ask his advice and observe how wisely he answers. He will exact some difficult promise from him and see how well he keeps it, turn over funds to him and see with what benevolence he dispenses them, inform him of the danger he is in and note how faithful he is to his duties. He will get him drunk with wine and observe how well he handles himself, place him in mixed company and see what effect beauty has upon him. By applying these nine tests, you may determine who is the unworthy man.

The gentleman does not promote people merely on the basis of their words, nor does he reject words merely because of the person who uttered them.

The Master is cordial yet stern, awe-inspiring yet not fierce and respectful yet at ease.

If you look at their intentions, examine their motives, and scrutinize what brings them contentment – how can people hide who they are? How can they hide who they really are?

Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.

The scholar does not consider gold and jade to be precious treasures, but loyalty and good faith.

A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do we know that his future will not be equal to our present?

Respect yourself and others will respect you.