Confucius Quotes

If a man be without the virtues proper to humanity, what has he to do with the rites of propriety? If a man be without the virtues proper to humanity, what has he to do with music?

A man is great not because he hasn't failed; a man is great because failure hasn't stopped him.

It is only he, possessed of all sagely qualities that can exist under heaven, who shows himself quick in apprehension, clear in discernment, of far-reaching intelligence, and all-embracing knowledge, fitted to exercise rule; magnanimous, generous, benign, and mild, fitted to exercise forbearance; impulsive, energetic, firm, and enduring, fitted to maintain a firm hold; self-adjusted, grave, never swerving from the Mean, and correct, fitted to command reverence; accomplished, distinctive, concentrative, and searching, fitted to exercise discrimination. All-embracing is he and vast, deep and active as a fountain, sending forth in their due season his virtues. All-embracing and vast, he is like Heaven. Deep and active as a fountain, he is like the abyss. He is seen, and the people all reverence him; he speaks, and the people all believe him; he acts, and the people all are pleased with him.

Honesty and trust are promoted, and good neighborliness cultivated.

I am not worried that nobody knows me. I seek to become fit to be known

The Master said, “The gentleman harmonizes [he] without being an echo. The petty man echoes [tong] and does not harmonize.

There is no body but eats and drinks. But they are few who can distinguish flavors.

To those whose talents are above mediocrity, the highest subjects may be announced. To those who are below mediocrity, the highest subjects may not be announced.

The funniest people are the saddest ones

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

Leaving virtue without proper cultivation; not thoroughly discussing what is learned; not being able to move towards righteousness of which a knowledge is gained; and not being able to change what is not good: — these are the things which occasion me solicitude.

The way of the superior man may be found, in its simple elements, in the intercourse of common men and women; but in its utmost reaches, it shines brightly through Heaven and Earth.

A superior man in dealing with the world is not for anything or against anything. He follows righteousness as the standard.

由，誨女知之乎，知之為知之，不知為不知，是知也。

Lernen und nicht denken ist nichtig, denken und nicht lernen ist ermüdend.