Confucius Quotes

Speaking (dao )” is a “guiding discourse (dao ).” Said a different way, language is both performative and prescriptive; it both does something to the world and recommends how it should be.

The dominant philosophical preoccupations of cultures are often a function of tacit assumptions made early in their narratives that are often reflected in their languages. Greek metaphysical presuppositions melded with Judeo-Christian beliefs to produce a “God-model,” where an independent and superordinate principle determines order and value in the world while remaining aloof from it, making human freedom, autonomy, creativity, and individuality at once problematic and of key philosophical interest. On the Chinese side, the commitment to the processional, transformative, and always provisional nature of experience renders the “ten thousand things [or, perhaps better, ‘events’] (wanwu )” which make up the world, including the human world, at once continuous one with another, and at the same time, unique. Thus the primary philosophical problem that emerges from these assumptions is ars contextualis: how do we correlate these unique particulars to achieve their most productive continuities? (This is the underlying general form of “questions” posed to the Book of Changes when casting the stalks.)

What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.

Don't do unto others what you don't want done unto you.

The superior man, in the world, does not set his mind either for anything, or against anything; what is right he will follow.

Si hanno due vite. La seconda comincia il giorno in cui ci si rende conto che non se ne ha che una.

The Master said, “I do not open the way for students who are not driven with eagerness; I do not supply a vocabulary for students who are not trying desperately to find the language for their ideas. If on showing students one corner they do not come back to me with the other three, I will not repeat myself.

What is the good of being ready with the tongue? They who encounter men with smartnesses of speech for the most part procure themselves hatred. I know not whether he be truly virtuous, but why should he show readiness of the tongue?

The superior man has neither anxiety nor fear. When internal examination discovers nothing wrong, what is there to be anxious about, what is there to fear?

君子博學於文、約之以禮、亦可以弗畔矣夫。

The noble-minded have nine states of mind: for eyes, bright; for ears, penetrating; for countenance; cordial; for demeanor, humble; for words, trustworthy; for service, reverent; for doubt, questioning; for anger circumspect; and for facing a chance to profit, moral.

I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand.

Some are born with knowledge, some derive it from study, and some acquire it only after a painful realization of their ignorance.

But the knowledge being possessed, it comes to the same thing.

Some study with a natural ease, some from a desire for advantages, and some by strenuous effort.

But the achievement being made, it comes to the same thing.

君子無所爭、必也射乎、揖譲而升下、而飲、其爭也君子。

If I am walking with two people, both will be my teachers