1,153 Quotes by Confucius

The superior man is distressed by his want (lack) of ability

Be sincere and true to your word, serious and careful in your actions; and you will get along even among barbarians, But if you are not sincere and untrustworthy in your speech, frivolous and careless in your actions, how will you get along even among your own neighbors? When stand, see these principles in front of you; in your carriage see them on the yoke. Then you may be sure to get along.

those who understands is not better than those who appreciates, those who appreciates is not better than those who enjoys.

The essence of knowledge is, having it, to apply it; not having it, to confess your ignorance.

Do not let a leader lead you on a bad path.

Listen much, keep silent when in doubt, and always take heed of the tongue; thou wilt make few mistakes. See much, beware of pitfalls, and always give heed to thy walk; thou wilt have little to rue. If thy words are seldom wrong, thy deeds leave little to rue, pay will follow.

The Master said, The case is like that of someone raising a mound. If he stops working, the fact that it perhaps needed only one more basketful makes no difference; I stay where I am. Whereas even if he has not got beyond leveling the ground, but is still at work, the fact that he has only tilted one basketful of earth makes no difference. I go to help him.

When I am with others, they are my teachers. I can select their good points and follow them, and select their bad points and avoid them.

To find the Tao, there is nowhere you need to search. If it is not inside you, it is not the Tao.