Confucius Quotes

Confucius - transliterated Kong Fuzi or K'ung-fu-tzu, lit. "Master Kong", according to some sources lived between 551 - 479 BCE. He was a famous Chinese thinker and social philosopher, whose teachings and philosophy have deeply influenced East Asian life and thought.

The philosophy of Confucius emphasised personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity.

Confucius Quotes

Ask yourself constantly, "What is the right thing to do?"


Behave toward everyone as if receiving a great guest.


The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.


It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.


The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.


Silence is the true friend that never betrays.


Behave toward everyone as if receiving a great guest.


Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it.


Respect yourself and others will respect you.


To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.


When anger rises, think of the consequences.


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.


Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.


Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.


Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.


When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.


Those who are firm, enduring, simple and unpretentious are the nearest to virtue.


Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.


The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trial.


The perfecting of one's self is the fundamental base of all progress and all moral development.


If one learns from others, but does not think, one will be bewildered. If, on the other hand, one thinks but does not learn from others, one will be in peril.


Learning without thought is labor lost. Thought without learning is perilous.


Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.


Review the old and deducing the new makes a teacher.


Do not be desirous of having things done quickly. Do not look at small advantages. Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.


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.