Confucius Quotes | Quotesoup

To see what is right, and not to do it, is want of courage or of principle.

By Confucius

To govern is to correct. If you set an example by being correct, who would dare remain incorrect?

By Confucius

To know that one knows what one knows, and to know that one doesn't know what one doesn't know, there lies true wisdom.

By Confucius

To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.

By Confucius

To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue...[They are] gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.

By Confucius

To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue...They are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.

By Confucius

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

By Confucius

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

By Confucius

Things that are done, it is needless to speak about...things that are past, it is needless to blame.

By Confucius

They must often change who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.

By Confucius

There are three things which the superior man guards against. In youth...lust. When he is strong...quarrelsomeness. When he is old...covetousness.

By Confucius

The wheel of fortune turns round incessantly, and who can say to himself, I shall to-day be uppermost.

By Confucius

The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.

By Confucius

The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his actions.

By Confucius

The superior man cannot be known in little matters, but he may be entrusted with great concerns. The small man may not be entrusted with great concerns, but he may be known in little matters.

By Confucius

The superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions.

By Confucius

The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.

By Confucius

The superior man is modest in his speech, but excels in his actions.

By Confucius

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

By Confucius

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

By Confucius

The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest success only comes later.

By 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.

By Confucius

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

By Confucius

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

By Confucius

The scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.

By Confucius

The perfecting of one's self is the fundamental base of all progress and all moral development.

By Confucius

The people may be made to follow a path of action, but they may not be made to understand it.

By Confucius

The man who in view of gain thinks of righteousness who in the view of danger is prepared to give up his life and who does not forget an old agreement however far back it extends - such a man may be reckoned a complete man.

By Confucius

The man who in view of gain thinks of righteousness; who in the view of danger is prepared to give up his life; and who does not forget an old agreement however far back it extends - such a man may be reckoned a complete man.

By Confucius

The man of virtue makes the difficulty to be overcome his first business, and success only a subsequent consideration.

By Confucius