Authors - Confucius

Brief Biography

Confucius (551 - 479 BC) was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history. The philosophy of Confucius emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice, and sincerity. - Wikipedia

Quotes by ConfuciusBrowse all of these

Quote 98by Anonymous on 13/12/2010

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.
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    Quote 1057by Anonymous on 10/01/2011

    Ability will never catch up with the demand for it.
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      Quote 1254by Anonymous on 11/01/2011

      Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
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        Quote 1267by Anonymous on 11/01/2011

        To know what is right and not to do it is the worst cowardice.
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          Quote 1781by Anonymous on 16/01/2011

          Learning without thought is labor lost.
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            Quote 1827by Anonymous on 16/01/2011

            He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.
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              Quote 1914by Anonymous on 19/01/2011

              I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
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                Quote 1969by Anonymous on 19/01/2011

                To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.
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                  Quote 1986by Anonymous on 20/01/2011

                  A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
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                    Quote 2420by Anonymous on 29/01/2011

                    Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
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                      Quote 2496by Anonymous on 31/01/2011

                      I do not want a friend who smiles when I smile, who weeps when I weep, for my shadow in the pool can do better than that.
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                        Quote 2582by Anonymous on 02/02/2011

                        Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
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                          Quote 2965by Anonymous on 03/02/2011

                          An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.
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                            Quote 3849by Anonymous on 12/02/2011

                            A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
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                              Quote 4772by Anonymous on 27/02/2011

                              Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honors depend upon heaven.
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                                Quote 5349by Anonymous on 21/06/2011

                                He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.
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                                  Quote 5387by Anonymous on 25/06/2011

                                  Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.
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                                    Quote 5435by Anonymous on 30/06/2011

                                    Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.
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                                      Quote 5575by Anonymous on 21/07/2011

                                      Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it.
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                                        Quote 5707by Anonymous on 20/08/2011

                                        The man of virtue makes the difficulty to be overcome his first business, and success only a subsequent consideration.
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                                          Quote 5769by Anonymous on 26/08/2011

                                          The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
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                                            Quote 5776by Anonymous on 27/08/2011

                                            He with whom neither slander that gradually soaks into the mind, nor statements that startle like a wound in the flesh, are successful may be called intelligent indeed.
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                                              Quote 5823by Anonymous on 30/08/2011

                                              Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.
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                                                Quote 5856by Anonymous on 31/08/2011

                                                By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.
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                                                  Quote 5877by Anonymous on 03/09/2011

                                                  Study the past if you would define the future.
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                                                    Quote 6147by Anonymous on 14/09/2011

                                                    When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.
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                                                      Quote 6160by Anonymous on 14/09/2011

                                                      Is virtue a thing remote? I wish to be virtuous, and lo! Virtue is at hand.
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                                                        Quote 6171by Anonymous on 14/09/2011

                                                        When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.
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                                                          Quote 6394by Anonymous on 19/09/2011

                                                          They must often change who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.
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                                                            Quote 6414by Anonymous on 19/09/2011

                                                            When a man's knowledge is sufficient to attain, and his virtue is not sufficient to enable him to hold, whatever he may have gained, he will lose again.
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                                                              Quote 6463by Anonymous on 19/09/2011

                                                              What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.
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                                                                Quote 6746by Anonymous on 07/10/2011

                                                                To be able under all circumstances to practice five things constitutes perfect virtue; these five things are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness and kindness.
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                                                                  Quote 6755by Anonymous on 07/10/2011

                                                                  Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star.
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                                                                    Quote 6965by Anonymous on 14/10/2011

                                                                    The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.
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                                                                      Quote 6983by Anonymous on 14/10/2011

                                                                      The man who in view of gain thinks of righteousness; who in the view of danger is prepared to give up his life; and who does not forget an old agreement however far back it extends - such a man may be reckoned a complete man.
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                                                                        Quote 7037by Anonymous on 17/10/2011

                                                                        What the superior man seeks is in himself. What the mean man seeks is in others.
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                                                                          Quote 7070by Anonymous on 19/10/2011

                                                                          Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue.
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                                                                            Quote 7099by Anonymous on 21/10/2011

                                                                            Virtue is more to man than either water or fire. I have seen men die from treading on water and fire, but I have never seen a man die from treading the course of virtue.
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                                                                              Quote 7144by Anonymous on 25/10/2011

                                                                              The people may be made to follow a path of action, but they may not be made to understand it.
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                                                                                Quote 7161by Anonymous on 26/10/2011

                                                                                If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.
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                                                                                  Quote 7281by Anonymous on 30/10/2011

                                                                                  What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.
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                                                                                    Quote 7286by Anonymous on 31/10/2011

                                                                                    If a man withdraws his mind from the love of beauty, and applies it as sincerely to the love of the virtuous; if, in serving his parents, he can exert his utmost strength; if, in serving his prince, he can devote his life; if in his intercourse with his friends, his words are sincere - although men say that he has not learned, I will certainly say that he has.
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                                                                                      Quote 7319by Anonymous on 02/11/2011

                                                                                      The scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.
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                                                                                        Quote 7342by Anonymous on 03/11/2011

                                                                                        The superior man cannot be known in little matters, but he may be entrusted with great concerns. The small man may not be entrusted with great concerns, but he may be known in little matters.
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                                                                                          Quote 7390by Anonymous on 09/11/2011

                                                                                          The superior man is satisfied and composed; the mean man is always full of distress.
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                                                                                            Quote 7513by Anonymous on 09/12/2011

                                                                                            The determined scholar and the man of virtue will not seek to live at the expense of injuring their virtue. They will even sacrifice their lives to preserve their virtue complete.
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                                                                                              Quote 7522by Anonymous on 12/12/2011

                                                                                              To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue...[They are] gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.
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                                                                                                Quote 7550by Anonymous on 19/12/2011

                                                                                                Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.
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                                                                                                  Quote 7560by Anonymous on 20/12/2011

                                                                                                  Without an acquaintance with the rules of propriety, it is impossible for the character to be established.
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                                                                                                    Quote 7793by Anonymous on 13/02/2012

                                                                                                    The cautious seldom err.
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                                                                                                      Quote 7987by Anonymous on 15/03/2012

                                                                                                      Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.
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                                                                                                        Quote 8517by Anonymous on 15/05/2012

                                                                                                        Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
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                                                                                                          Quote 8556by Anonymous on 18/05/2012

                                                                                                          The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability that he has.
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                                                                                                            Quote 9227by Anonymous on 30/06/2012

                                                                                                            When anger rises, think of the consequences.
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                                                                                                              Quote 9293by Anonymous on 09/07/2012

                                                                                                              They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.
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                                                                                                                Quote 10095by Anonymous on 12/09/2012

                                                                                                                When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.
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                                                                                                                  Quote 12501by Anonymous on 24/04/2013

                                                                                                                  The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.
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                                                                                                                    Quote 13226by Anonymous on 29/06/2013

                                                                                                                    Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?
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                                                                                                                      Quote 13502by Anonymous on 28/07/2013

                                                                                                                      Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.
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                                                                                                                        Quote 13657by Anonymous on 16/08/2013

                                                                                                                        The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.
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                                                                                                                          Quote 13716by Anonymous on 27/08/2013

                                                                                                                          Respect yourself and others will respect you.
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                                                                                                                            Quote 13739by Anonymous on 27/08/2013

                                                                                                                            Men's natures are alike, it is their habits that carry them far apart.
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                                                                                                                              Quote 13829by Anonymous on 08/09/2013

                                                                                                                              The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.
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                                                                                                                                Quote 13980by Anonymous on 01/10/2013

                                                                                                                                Old age, believe me, is a good and pleasant thing. It is true you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator.
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