In a world that’s always on the go and constantly changing, the timeless words of Confucius offer a respite and a splash of ancient brilliance. His teachings, with their blend of wit and wisdom, have a knack for hitting the nail on the head, no matter the century.
In this article, we’ve handpicked some of the most inspiring and “AHA” moment quotes from Confucius. These gems of wisdom are perfect for adding a little extra sparkle to your day.
Whether you’re looking for guidance on how to navigate life’s twists and turns, or just need a quick pick-me-up, these quotes have got you covered.
Grab a cup of tea (or your beverage of choice), get comfy, and prepare to be enlightened and entertained.
1. “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
2. “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
3. “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”
4. “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”
5. “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
6. “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.”
7. “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
8. “When we see persons of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see persons of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.”
9. “Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.”
10. “Signs and symbols rule the world, not words nor laws.”
11. “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.”
12. “You cannot open a book without learning something.”
13. “Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.”
14. “It does not matter how tall you are, but how well you stand tall.”
15. “The object of the superior man is truth.”
16. “When you know a thing, to hold that you know it, and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it – this is knowledge.”
17. “The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their proper name.”
18. “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
19. “The true gentleman does not preach what he practices till he has practiced what he preaches.”
20. “Look at the means which a man employs, consider his motives, observe his pleasures. A man simply cannot conceal himself!”
21. “Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.”
22. “If what one has to say is not better than silence, then one should keep silent.”
23. “Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.”
24. “To be wealthy and honored in an unjust society is a disgrace.”
25. “The man who says he can, and the man who says he cannot… Are both correct.”
26. “He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.”
27. “To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness.”
28. “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
29. “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.”
30. “Study the past if you would define the future.”
31. “Respect yourself and others will respect you.”
32. “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.”
33. “To see what is right and not do it is the want of courage.”
34. “He who will not economize will have to agonize.”
35. “In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.”
36. “The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”
37. “The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.”
38. “He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.”
39. “He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.”
40. “If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.”
41. “They must often change who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.”
42. “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”
43. “He who excels in study can follow an official career.”
44. “He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.”
45. “Acquire new knowledge whilst thinking over the old, and you may become a teacher of others.”
46. “To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.”
47. “Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.”
48. “A great man is hard on himself; a small man is hard on others.”
49. “You can successfully force people to follow a certain course, but you cannot force them to understand it.”
50. “The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”
51. “The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest; success only comes later.”
52. “When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself.”
53. “A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do we know that his future will not be equal to our present?”
54. “We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression.”
55. “If the gentleman is not serious, he will not be respected, and his learning will not be on a firm foundation. He considers loyalty and faithfulness to be fundamental, has no friends who are not like him, and when he has made mistakes, he is not afraid of correcting them.”
56. “A man who has committed a mistake and doesn’t correct it is committing another mistake.”
57. “I want you to be everything that’s you, deep at the center of your being.”
58. “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”
59. “The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.”
60. “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.”
61. “Silence is a true friend who never betrays.”
62. “Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.”
63. “Words are the voice of the heart.”
64. “Good people strengthen themselves ceaselessly.”
65. “No matter how busy you make think you are you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.”
66. “It is man that makes truth great, not truth that makes man great.”
67. “He who acts with a constant view to his own advantage will be much murmured against.”
68. “True goodness springs from a man’s own heart. All men are born good.”
69. “I will not be concerned at other men’s not knowing me; I will be concerned at my own want of ability.”
70. “There is nothing more visible than what is secret, and nothing more manifest than what is minute.”
71. “The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… These are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.”
72. “Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.”
73. “Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.”
74. “To be truly happy and contented, you must let go of what it means to be happy or content.”
75. “The journey with a 1000 miles begins with one step.”
76. “Ability will never catch up with the demand for it.”
77. “When wealth is centralized, the people are dispersed. When wealth is distributed, the people are brought together.”
78. “Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.”
79. “Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star.”
80. “Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?”
81. “Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honors depend upon heaven.”
82. “If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?”
83. “The superior man is satisfied and composed; the mean man is always full of distress.”
84. “When a man’s knowledge is sufficient to attain, and his virtue is not sufficient to enable him to hold, whatever he may have gained, he will lose again.”
85. “Old age, believe me, is a good and pleasant thing. It is true you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator.”
86. “If we don’t know life, how can we know death?”
87. “Have no friends not equal to yourself.”
88. “The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.”
89. “Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.”
90. “He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.”
91. “Do not let a leader lead you on a bad path.”
92. “If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.”
93. “A man is great not because he hasn’t failed; a man is great because failure hasn’t stopped him.”
94. “Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.”
95. “By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.”
96. “The cautious seldom err.”
97. “When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.”
98. “To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.”
99. “Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue.”
100. “Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.”
101. “It is not possible for one to teach others who cannot teach his own family.”
102. “The essence of knowledge is, having it, to apply it; not having it, to confess your ignorance.”
103. “He with whom neither slander that gradually soaks into the mind, nor statements that startle like a wound in the flesh, are successful may be called intelligent indeed.”
104. “When anger rises, think of the consequences.”
105. “If you try to do too much, you will not achieve anything.”
Confucius’ teachings emphasize the importance of improving oneself continuously, ethical behavior, and pursuing knowledge. His philosophy stresses the value of reflection, integrity, and perseverance in both personal and public life.
You know what’s cool? These quotes aren’t just dusty old sayings. They’re like a Swiss Army knife for life – there’s a tool for every situation.
Feeling stuck? Confucius has got your back. Need a pep talk? He’s your man. Wondering how to deal with that tricky coworker? Yep, he’s thought about that too.
So, whether you’re looking for some life advice or just enjoy pondering the big questions, Confucius serves up food for thought that’s both satisfying and leaves you hungry for more.
Not bad for a guy who never got to see a smartphone, right?
Hey fellow Linguaholics! It’s me, Marcel. I am the proud owner of linguaholic.com. Languages have always been my passion and I have studied Linguistics, Computational Linguistics and Sinology at the University of Zurich. It is my utmost pleasure to share with all of you guys what I know about languages and linguistics in general.