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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.

“The superior man understands what is right the inferior man understands what will sell.”

— Confucius

Business

All Quotes by Confucius

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

— Confucius

Friendship

“Learning without thought is labor lost thought without learning is perilous.”

— Confucius

Learning

“The expectations of life depend upon diligence the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.”

— Confucius

Life

“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

“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

“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

“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.”

— Confucius

Government

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

— Confucius

Courage

“The object of the superior man is truth.”

— Confucius

Truth

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

— Confucius

Change

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

— Confucius

Courage

“If we don't know life, how can we know death?”

— Confucius

Death

“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.”

— Confucius

Experience

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

— Confucius

Friendship

“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.”

— Confucius

Motivational

“The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”

— Confucius

Home

“Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?”

— Confucius

Men

“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.”

— Confucius

Good

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

— Confucius

Failure

“Study the past, if you would divine the future.”

— Confucius

Future