Quotes from Confucius

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

The great man is sparing in words but prodigal in deeds.

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.

He is the truly courageous man who never desponds.

In antiquity men studied for their own sake; nowadays men study for the sake of impressing others.

If a man has no humaneness what can his propriety be like? If a man has no humaneness what can his happiness be like?

A truly great man never puts away the simplicity of a child.

Without that innate sense of human worth, a man cannot long endure adversity, nor can he long enjoy prosperity.

The higher type of man clings to virtue, the lower type of man clings to material comfort. The higher type of man cherishes justice, the lower type of man cherishes the hope of favors to be received.

In vain I have looked for a single man capable of seeing his own faults and bringing the charge home against himself.

An angry man is full of poison.

The highest kind of man is the one who does before talking and practices what he professes.

True goodness springs from a man's own heart. All men are born good.

The superior man undergoes three changes. Looked at from a distance, he appears stern; when approached, he is mild; when he is heard to speak, his language is firm and decided.

The man of humanity delights in mountains

The Way is not for, but from, man; if we take the Way as something superhuman, beyond man, this is not the real Way.

If you don't know how to serve men, why worry about serving the gods?

There is nothing impossible in all the world except that the heart of man is wanting in resolution.

Grieve not that men do not know you; grieve that you do not know men.

Therefore the superior man is watchful over himself, when he is alone.

He Who Knows And Knows That He Knows Is A Wise Man - Follow Him; He Who Knows Not And Knows Not That He Knows Not Is A Fool - Shun Him

A fool marvels at rare things, but a wise man at common ones.

A gentleman can withstand hardships; it is only the small man who, when submitted to them, is swept off his feet.

The Three Armies can be deprived of their commanding officer, but even a common man cannot be deprived of his purpose.