Confucius Quotes

5th-century BCE Chinese philosopher and politician

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Confucius (traditionally 28 September 551 B.C. – 479 B.C.) was a Chinese social philosopher, whose teachings deeply influenced East Asian life and thought. "Confucius" is a latinization of the Chinese 孔夫子, Kong Fu Zi or K'ung-fu-tzu, literally "Master Kong", but he is usually referred to in China with a simpler version of this honorific as 孔子, Kongzi, or Kǒng Zǐ.

From: Wikiquote (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Native Name: 孔夫子

Alternative Names: Confucio • Konfuzius • Cheu-kong • Chung-ni • Cong-tse • K'ung Chung-ni • K'ung Fu-tse • K'ung-fu-tzu • K'ung-tzu • Kong Fu Zi • Kong Fuzi • Kong Qiu • Kong Zhongni • Kongfuzi • Kongqiu • Kongzi • Kung Chung-ni • Kung Fu Tzu • Kung Fu-tse • Kungfutse • Zhongni

From Wikidata (CC0)

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If a craftsman wants to do good work, he must first sharpen his tools.

A seed grows with no sound, but a tree falls with a huge noise. Destruction has noise, but creation is quiet. This is the power of silence. Grow silently.

A great man is hard on himself, a weak man is hard on others.

The Master said, “When you meet persons of exceptional character think to stand shoulder to shoulder with them; meeting persons of little character, look inward and examine yourself.

I am not concerned that I am not known; I seek to be worthy to be known.

He has not lived in vain who dies the day he is told about the Way

To know what is first and what is last will lead near to what is taught in the Great Learning.

弟子，入則孝，出則弟，謹而信，凡愛眾，而親仁。行有餘力，則以學文。

We all have two lives, your second one begins when you realize you’ve only got one.

Aquellos de espíritu superior entienden la justicia. Los ordinarios, el beneficio.

Things have their roots and branches. Affairs have their beginnings and their ends. To know what is first and what is last will lead one near the Way.

At fifteen my mind was directed to study, and at thirty I knew where to stand.

I am not concerned that I have no place; I am concerned how I may fit myself for one. I am not concerned that I am not known; I seek to be worthy to be known.

When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.

Things being investigated, knowledge became complete. Their knowledge being complete, their thoughts were sincere. Their thoughts being sincere, their hearts were then rectified. Their hearts being rectified, their persons were cultivated. Their persons being cultivated, their families were regulated. Their families being regulated, their States were rightly governed. Their States being rightly governed, the whole kingdom was made tranquil and happy.