1,153 Quotes by Confucius

Tzu Chang asked Confucius about jen. Confucius said, "If you can practice these five things with all the people, you can be called jen." Tzu Chang asked what they were. Confucius said, "Courtesy, generosity, honesty, persistence, and kindness. If you are courteous, you will not be disrespected; if you are generous, you will gain everything. If you are honest, people will rely on you. If you are persistent you will get results. If you are kind, you can employ people.

When wealth is centralized, the people are dispersed. When wealth is distributed, the people are brought together.

A happy union with wife and child is like the music of lutes and harps.

The young should be dutiful at home, modest abroad, careful and true, overflowing in kindness for all, but in brotherhood with love. And if they have strength to spare they should spend it on the arts.

The object of the superior man is truth.

When music and courtesy are better understood and appreciated, there will be no war.

The Master said, If out of the three hundred songs I had to take one phrase to cover all my teachings, I would say 'Let there be no evil in your thoughts.'

To be fond of learning is near to wisdom.

A good man does not make a warrior, just as good steel does not go for nails.