120+ Confucius Quotes to Unlock the Wisdom [NEW & EXCLUSIVE]

Confucius, also known as Kong Qui or K’ung Fu-Tzu, was a Chinese teacher, philosopher, and politician. Confucius is best known for his philosophy which focuses on personal morality, ethical governance, justice and social relationships. Confucius’ philosophies remained in the archives of ancient Chinese history and he was one of the most important and influential individuals in affecting the lives of humanity.

Even though Confucius lived a very long time ago, his lessons and words of wisdom have been passed down among newer generations, and if you haven’t heard of Confucius before, there is still a lot of wisdom to take in. You’ll gain more wisdom from famous quotes by philosophers such as Buddha quotes, mind expanding Laozi quotes, and best Sun Tzu quotes, too.

Most Famous Confucius Quotes

Wherever you go, go with all your heart. Confucius

By three methods we may learn wisdom First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. Confucious

We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression. Confucius

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. Confucius

And remember, no matter where you go, there you are. Confucius

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it. Confucious

To be wealthy and honored in an unjust society is a disgrace. Confucius

Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart. Confucius

Roads were made for journeys, not destinations. Confucius

He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions. Confucius

To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short. Confucius

The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones. Confucius

The way you cut your meat reflects the way you live. Confucius

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

Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance. Confucius

If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake. Confucius

Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. Confucius

Study the past if you would define the future. Confucius

Three things cannot long be hidden the sun, the moon, and the truth. Confucius

Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves. Confucius

The object of the superior man is truth. Confucius

To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it. Confucius

What you do not wish upon yourself, extend not to others. Confucius

The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life. Confucius

A man of wisdom delights in water. Confucius

When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points. Confucius

Learn as if you were not reaching your goal and as though you were scared of missing it. Confucius

Silence is a true friend who never betrays. Confucius

To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness. Confucius

Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others. Confucius

To understand yourself is the key to wisdom. Confucius

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

Sincerity is the way of heaven. Confucius

The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat. Confucius

First there must be order and harmony within your own mind. Then this order will spread to your family, then to the community, and finally to your entire kingdom. Only then can you have peace and harmony. Confucius

Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without. Confucius

When anger rises, think of the consequences. Confucius

We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one. Confucius

A lack of patience in trifling matters might lead to the disruption of great project. Confucius

Give a bowl of rice to a man and you will feed him for a day. Teach him how to grow his own rice and you will save his life. Confucius

The true gentleman does not preach what he practices till he has practiced what he preaches. Confucius

The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials. Confucius

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

The way out is through the door. Why is it that no one will use this method? Confucius

Silence is a true friend who never betrays. Confucius

It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs. Confucius

Learn avidly. Question it repeatedly. Analyze it carefully. Then put what you have learned into practice intelligently. Confucius

Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change. Confucius

Base yourself in loyalty and trust. Don’t be a companion with those who are not your moral equal. When you make a mistake, don’t hesitate to correct it. Confucius

Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance. Confucius

Anyone can find the switch after the lights are on. Confucius

If what one has to say is not better than silence, then one should keep silent. Confucius

Sincerity is that whereby self completion is effected, and its way is that by which man must direct himself. Confucius

Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles. Confucius

One joy dispels a hundred cares. Confucius

To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order; we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right. Confucius

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it. Confucius

When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps. Confucius

To love a thing means wanting it to live. Confucius

If your plan is for one year plant rice. If your plan is for ten years plant trees. If your plan is for one hundred years educate children. Confucius

A lion chased me up a tree, and I greatly enjoyed the view from the top. Confucius

In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of. Confucius

Study the past, if you would divine the future. Confucius

Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace. Confucius

Can there be a love which does not make demands on its object? Confucius

The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort. Confucious

He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good. Confucius

Don’t complain about the snow on your neighbor’s roof when your own doorstep is unclean. Confucius

If you try to do too much, you will not achieve anything. Confucius

It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get. Confucius

True goodness springs from a man’s own heart. All men are born good. Confucius

Learning without thought is labour lost; thought without learning is perilous. Confucius

You can successfully force people to follow a certain course, but you cannot force them to understand it. Confucius

Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know more. Confucius

The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life. Confucius

The Man who says he can, and the man who says he can not. Are both correct. Confucius

The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones. Confucius

Never give a sword to a man who can’t dance. Confucius

The superior man is satisfied and composed; the mean man is always full of distress. Confucius

He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior. Confucius

Do not let a leader lead you on a bad path. Confucius

The nobler sort of man emphasizes the good qualities in others, and does not accentuate the bad. The inferior does. Confucius

When you see a good person, think of becoming like her him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points. Confucius

If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room. Confucius

Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without. Confucius

A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace. Confucius

Ah, music, sacred tongue of God! I hear thee calling and I come. Confucius

By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart. Confucius

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. Confucius

If one should desire to know whether a kingdom is well governed, if its morals are good or bad, the quality of its music will furnish the answer. Confucius

They must often change who would remain constant in happiness and wisdom. Confucius

Knowledge is merely brilliance in organization of ideas and not wisdom. The truly wise person goes beyond knowledge. Confucius

Knowing something is not as good as liking it. Liking something is not as good as rejoicing in it. Confucius

The green reed which bends in the wind is stronger than the mighty oak which breaks in a storm. Confucius

Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes. Confucius

If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear? Confucius

The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large. Confucius

Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon or star. Confucious

I slept and dreamt life is beauty, I woke and found life is duty. Confucius

You will never know how sharp a sword is unless it’s drawn from its sheath. Confucius

No matter how busy you make think you are you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self chosen ignorance. Confucius

Learn as if you were not reaching your goal and as though you were scared of missing it. Confucius

When wealth is centralized, the people are dispersed. When wealth is distributed, the people are brought together. Confucius

The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does not forget that disorder may come. Thus his person is not endangered, and his States and all their clans are preserved. Confucius

There are three degrees of filial piety. The highest is being a credit to our parents, the second is not disgracing them; the lowest is being able simply to support them. Confucius

A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do we know that his future will not be equal to our present? Confucius

To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it. Confucius

If there were one word that could act as a standard of conduct for one’s entire life, perhaps it would be thoughtfulness. Confucius

To be truly happy and contented, you must let go of what it means to be happy or content. Confucius

We take greater pains to persuade others that we are happy than in endeavoring to think so ourselves. Confucius

Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change. Confucius

They must often change who would remain constant in happiness and wisdom. Confucius

Don’t complain about the snow on your neighbor’s roof when your own doorstep is unclean. Confucius

We should keep the dead before our eyes, and honor them as though still living. Confucius

Let the states of equilibrium and harmony exist in perfection, and a happy order will prevail throughout heaven and earth, and all things will be nourished and flourish. Confucius

A man without a mustache is a man without a soul. Confucius

If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake. Confucius

He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good. Confucius

About the Author

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