1,153 Quotes by Confucius

Plan ahead or find trouble on the doorstep.

What Heaven has conferred is called The Nature; an accordance with this nature is called The Path of duty; the regulation of this path is called Instruction. The path may not be left for an instant. If it could be left, it would not be the path.

Rather than caring about whether or not you are known, strive to be worth knowing.

See a person's means ... Observe his motives. Examine that in which he rests. How can a person conceal his character?

A man living without conflicts, as if he never lives at all.

If one leads them with administrative measures and uses punishments to make them conform, the people will be evasive, but if one leads them with virtue, they will come up to expectations.

A man should practice what he preaches, but a man should also preach what he practices.

I used to listen to what others said, and expect them to act accordingly. But nowadays, I listen to what they say, and then observe what they do.

When a nation or family is about to flourish, there are sure to be happy omens; and when it is about to perish, there are sure to be unlucky omens.