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 your desire is for good, the people will be good.

Have no friends not equal to yourself.

I was not born with wisdom. I love the ancient teachings and have worked hard to attain to their level.

When words lose their meaning, people lose their freedom.

Knowing it does not compare with loving it; loving it does not compare with delighting in it.

或曰：「以德報怨，何如？」子曰：「何以報德？以直報怨，以德報德。」

I am not an originator but a transmitter.

It is not truth that makes man great, but man that makes truth great.

The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability that he has.

Respect the gods and the devils but keep them at a distance

Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without

The Master said, “To study, and then in a timely fashion to practice what you have learned — is this not satisfying? To have companions arrive from afar — is this not a joy? To remain unrecognized by others and yet remain free of resentment — is this not the mark of the gentleman?”
(Analects 1.1)

The kingdom, its states, and its families, may be perfectly ruled; dignities and emoluments may be declined; naked weapons may be trampled under the feet; but the course of the Mean cannot be attained to.

子曰：「以不教民戰，是謂棄之。」

When you see a person of worth, concentrate upon becoming their equal.