Confucius Mean Quotations

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.

Look at the means which a man employs, consider his motives, observe his pleasures. A man simply cannot conceal himself!

What the superior person seeks is in themselves. What the mean person seeks is in others.

The superior man is quiet and calm, waiting for the appointments of heaven, while the mean man walks in dangerous paths, looking for lucky occurrences.

Waste begets self-will; thrift begets meanness: but better be mean than self-willed.

Coarse rice to eat, water to drink, my bended arm for a pillow - therein is happiness. Wealth and rank attained through immoral means are nothing but drifting clouds.

The superior man has a dignified ease without pride. The mean man has pride without a dignified ease.

The superior person tries to promote music as a means to the perfection of human culture. When such music prevails, and people's minds are led towards the right ideals and aspirations, we may see the appearance of a great nation.

The superior man accords with the course of the Mean. Though he may be all unknown, unregarded by the world, he feels no regret - It is only the sage who is able for this.

See a person's means ... Observe his motives. Examine that in which he rests. How can a person conceal his character?

The administration of government lies in getting proper men. Such men are to be got by means of the ruler's own character. That character is to be cultivated by his treading in the ways of duty. And the treading those ways of duty is to be cultivated by the cherishing of benevolence.

Look closely into his aims, observe the means by which he pursues them, discover what brings him content - and can the man's real worth remain hidden from you?

It is the way of the superior man to prefer the concealment of his virtue, while it daily becomes more illustrious, and it is the way of the mean man to seek notoriety, while he daily goes more and more to ruin.

To love a thing means wanting it to live.

There has never been a man mean and at the same time virtuous.

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

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

Being strong does not mean that you never fall down, but that whenever you fall, you get up again.