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Confucius

46 quotes

Confucius (551–479 BC) was a Chinese philosopher and teacher whose ideas about morality, social relationships, justice, and sincerity formed the foundation of Confucianism. His teachings, compiled by his disciples in the *Analerta*, have shaped East Asian thought, government, and culture for over 2,500 years and continue to influence billions of people.

“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.”

— Confucius

Good

All Quotes by Confucius

“There are three methods to gaining wisdom. The first is reflection, which is the highest. The second is limitation, which is the easiest. The third is experience, which is the bitterest.”

— Confucius

Experience

“The cautious seldom err.”

— Confucius

Leadership

“It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.”

— Confucius

Friendship

“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.”

— Confucius

Men

“The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.”

— Confucius

Good

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

— Confucius

Wisdom

“Speak the truth, do not yield to anger give, if thou art asked for little by these three steps thou wilt go near the gods.”

— Confucius

Anger

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

— Confucius

Life

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

— Confucius

Good

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

— Confucius

Courage

“Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.”

— Confucius

Failure

“The faults of a superior person are like the sun and moon. They have their faults, and everyone sees them they change and everyone looks up to them.”

— Confucius

Change

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

— Confucius

Intelligence

“The object of the superior man is truth.”

— Confucius

Truth

“You cannot open a book without learning something.”

— Confucius

Learning

“Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.”

— Confucius

Friendship

“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.”

— Confucius

Knowledge

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”

— Confucius

Beauty

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

— Confucius

Change

“Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.”

— Confucius

Change