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
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