Confucius (/kənˈfjuːʃəs/ kən-FEW-shəs; 551 BC – 479 BC) was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history.
The superior man, even when he is not moving, has a feeling of reverence, and while he speaks not, he has the feeling of truthfulness.
The nobler sort of man emphasizes the good qualities in others, and does not accentuate the bad. The inferior does.
roads were made for journeys not destinations
How abundantly do spiritual beings display the powers that belong to them! We look for them, but do not see them; we listen to, but do not hear them; yet they enter into all things, and there is nothing without them.
The chase of gain is rich in hate
What you dislike in your superiors, avoid doing to your inferiors. What you dislike in your inferiors, avoid doing when working for your superiors. What you hate in those who are in front of you, do not do to those behind you.
The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.
The more people know, the more they forgive.
A good man regards the root; he fixes the root, and ail else flows out of it. The root is filial piety; the fruit brotherly love.
Kong Qiu, or Master Kong as he was known, did not live to see his days of glory. During his lifetime, his views were received with scorn. But that was about two thousand five hundred years ago. A handful of his dedicated followers passed on Confucius' teachings to future generations. After Confucius' death, his followers published his teachings in the book, The Analects of Confucius.
Be aroused by poetry; structure yourself with propriety, refine yourself with music.
If the people be led by laws, and uniformity sought to be given them by punishments, they will try to avoid the punishment, but have no sense of shame.
When strict with oneself, one rarely fails.
When wealth is centralized, the people are dispersed. When wealth is distributed, the people are brought together.
There are three friendships which are advantageous, and three which are injurious. Friendship with the upright; friendship with the sincere; and friendship with the man of much observation: these are advantageous. Friendship with the man of specious airs; friendship with the insinuatingly soft; and friendship with the glib-tongued: these are injurious.
Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.
To know, is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge. When you say something, say what you know. When you don't know something, say you don't know. That is knowledge.
Tsze-Kung asked, “Is there one word with which to act in accordance throughout a lifetime?” The Master said, “Is not reciprocity such a word? What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.
A great man is hard on himself; a small man is hard on others.
A man who has committed a mistake and does not correct it is committing another mistake.