Confucius Inspirational Quotations

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

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

Wherever you go, go with all your heart.

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

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

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

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

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

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

If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.

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

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

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

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.

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

Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.

To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness.

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

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

Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.

What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.

Instead of being concerned that you have no office, be concerned to think how you may fit yourself for office. Instead of being concerned that you are not known, seek to be worthy of being known.

To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.

The book salesman should be honored because he brings to our attention, as a rule, the very books we need most and neglect most.

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

Ability will never catch up with the demand for it.

Worry not that no one knows of you; seek to be worth knowing.

Learn, as if never overtaking your object, and yet as if apprehensive of losing it.

Heaven begat Virtue in me; what can man do unto me?

He who keeps danger in mind will rest safely in his seat.

Even in killing men, observe the rules of propriety.

Do not use a cannon to kill a mosquito.

By the ruler's cultivation of his own character there is set up the example of the course which all should pursue.

Man is born for uprightness. If a man lose his uprightness and yet live, his escape from death is mere good fortune.

The virtuous will be sure to speak uprightly; but those whose speech is upright may not be virtuous.

While you are not able to serve men, how can you serve spirits of the dead...While you do not know life, how can you know about death

Virtue is not solitary; it is bound to have neighbors

There is the love of knowing without the love of learning; the beclouding here leads to dissipation of mind.

The path may not be left for an instant. If it could be left, it would not be the path.

The Master said, “A true teacher is one who, keeping the past alive, is also able to understand the present.” (Analects 2.11)

Worry not that no one knows you; seek to be worth knowing.

People with virtue must speak out; People who speak are not all virtuous.

Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.

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

As the water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it, so a wise man adapts himself to circumstances.

With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bent arm for a pillow - I have still joy in the midst of all these things.

An inch of time on the sundial is worth more than a foot of jade.

The superior man is easy to serve, but difficult to please ... The inferior man is difficult to serve, but easy to please.

Not to alter one's faults is to be faulty indeed.

It cannot be when the root is neglected that what springs from it will be well ordered.

Heaven means to be one with God.

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

Men's natures are alike; it is their habits that separate them.

Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.

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

It is only the very wisest and the very stupidest who cannot change.

When superiors are fond of showing their humanity, inferiors try to outstrip one another in their practice of it.

Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.

When anger rises, think of the consequences.

Wealth and rank are what people desire, but unless they are obtained in the right way they may not be possessed.

The gem cannot be polished without friction nor man without trials.

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

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

Don't be concerned about others not appreciating you. Be concerned about your not appreciating others.

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.

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

The sun and moon shine on all without partiality.

A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.

Signs and symbols rule the world, not words nor laws.

Friendship with the upright, with the truthful and with the well informed is beneficial. Friendship with those who flatter, with those who are meek and who compromise with principles, and with those who talk cleverly is harmful.

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.

The scholar does not consider gold and jade to be precious treasures, but loyalty and good faith.

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

Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.

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

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