Confucius was a Chinese philosopher and politician of the Spring and Autumn period. The philosophy of Confucius, also known as Confucianism, emphasized personal and governmental morality, the correctness of social relationships, justice, kindness, and sincerity. Enjoy these inspirational Confucius quotes about family, life, love, and learning.
Best Confucius Quotes
- “Silence is a true friend who never betrays.” – Confucius
- “Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.” – Confucius
- “Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation, there is sure to be failure.” – Confucius
- “Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.” – Confucius
- “To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.” – Confucius
- “The way of the superior person is threefold; virtuous, they are free from anxieties; wise, they are free from perplexities; and bold, they are free from fear.” – Confucius
- “Forget injuries, never forget kindness.” – Confucius
- “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” – Confucius
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“The gem cannot be polished without friction nor man without trials.” – Confucius
- “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.” – Confucius
- “Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.” – Confucius
- “Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.” – Confucius
- “Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.” – Confucius
- “The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.” – Confucius
- “Men’s natures are alike, it is their habits that carry them far apart.” – Confucius
- “If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.” – Confucius
- “If we don’t know life, how can we know death?” – Confucius, Confucius quotes about life & death
- “Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.” – Confucius
- “The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.” – Confucius
- “Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.” – Confucius
- “It is better to light one small candle of gratitude than to curse the darkness.” – Confucius
- “Wherever you go, go with all your heart” – Confucius
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“Men’s natures are alike, it is their habits that carry them apart.” – Confucius
- “The faults of a superior person are like the sun and moon. They have their faults, and everyone sees them; they change and everyone looks up to them.” – Confucius
- “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.” – Confucius
- “To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.” – Confucius
- “He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.” – Confucius
- “Time flows away like the water in the river.” – Confucius
- “The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.” – Confucius
- “If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.” – Confucius
- “Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it.” – Confucius
- “The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.” – Confucius
- “Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.” – Confucius
- “No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.” – Confucius
- “Ask yourself constantly: What is the right thing to do.” – Confucius
- “Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs.” – Confucius
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“You cannot open a book without learning something.” – Confucius
- “A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace.” – Confucius
- “The book salesman should be honored because he brings to our attention, as a rule, the very books we need most and neglect most.” – Confucius
- “The man who think he can and the man who think he can’t are both right.” – Confucius
- “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Confucius
- “Be the change you want to see in the world.” – Confucius
- “A man who has committed a mistake and doesn’t correct it is committing another mistake.” – Confucius
- “A superior man is modest in his speech but exceed in his actions.” – Confucius
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“The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.” – Confucius
- “I want you to be everything that’s you, deep at the center of your being.” – Confucius
- “Speak the truth, do not yield to anger; give, if thou art asked for little.” – Confucius
- “Things that are done, it is needless to speak about, things that are past, it is needless to blame.” – Confucius
- “It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme works. All good things are difficult to achieve, and bad things are very easy to get.” – Confucius, Confucius quotes about love and hate
- “Ability will never catch up with the demand for it.” – Confucius
- “What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.” – Confucius
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“Life is really simple but we insist on making it complicated.” – Confucius
- “They must often change who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.” – Confucius
- “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.” – Confucius
- “Instead of being concerned that you have no office, be concerned to think how you may fit yourself for office. Instead of being concerned that you are not known, seek to be worthy of being known.” – Confucius
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“What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.” – Confucius
- “I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge; I am one who is fond of antiquity and earnest in seeking it there.” – Confucius
- “Study the past if you would define the future.” – Confucius
- “Without an acquaintance with the rules of propriety, it is impossible for the character to be established.” – Confucius
- “Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.” – Confucius
- “A fool despises good counsel, but a wise man takes it to heart.” – Confucius
- “When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself.” – Confucius
- “The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterward speaks according to his actions.” – Confucius
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“Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius
- “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 experience.” – Confucius
- “As the water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it, a wise man should adapt himself to circumstances.” – Confucius
- “The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.” – Confucius
- “I will not be concerned at other men’s not knowing me; I will be concerned at my own want of ability.” – Confucius
