Quotes from Confucius

Aspire to the principal, behave with virtue, abide by benevolence, and immerse yourself in the arts.

Man who stand on hill with mouth open will wait long time for roast duck to drop in.

The faults of the superior man are like the eclipses of the sun and moon. He has his faults, and all men see them; he changes, and all men look up to him.

Worthy admonitions cannot fail to inspire us, but what matters is changing ourselves. Reverent advice cannot fail to encourage us, but what matters is acting on it. Encouraged without acting, inspired without changing – there's nothing to be done for such people.

Things that are done, it is needless to speak about; things that have had their course, it is needless to remonstrate about; things that are past, it is needless to blame.

Language is insight itself.

he had four of the characteristics of a superior man:— in his conduct of himself, he was humble; in serving his superiors, he was respectful; in nourishing the people, he was kind; in ordering the people, he was just.

A man should say, I am not concerned that I have no place, I am concerned how I may fit myself for one. I am not concerned that I am not known, I seek to be worthy to be known.

When we see men of worth, we should think of equalling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.

????????,?????????" "Knowing it does not compare with loving it; loving it does not compare with delighting in it.

The Master said, "The gentleman harmonizes [he] without being an echo. The petty man echoes [tong] and does not harmonize.

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.

Listen to all that you can – then, if you forget the deficiencies and speak about the rest cautiously, you avoid trouble. See all that you can – then, if you forget the perilous and act upon the rest cautiously, you'll avoid regret. In speech avoid trouble, in action avoid regret – then rewards will come of themselves.

Is it not indeed a pleasure to acquire knowledge and constantly to exercise oneself therein?

Lord Chi Wen thought three times before taking any action. When the Master heard this, he said: Twice is plenty enough.

Clever talk, ingratiating looks, fawning reverence: Tso-ch'iu Ming found that shameful, and so do I. Friendly while harboring resentment: Tso-ch'iu Ming found that shameful, too, and so do I.

The nobler type of man is broad-minded and not prejudiced. The inferior man is prejudiced and not broad-minded.

Am I a man of great wisdom? Hardly! Even when a simple person brings me a question, my mind goes utterly blank, I just thrash it out until I've exhausted every possibility.

LEARN AS THOUGH YOU WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO MASTER IT

Avant d'ouvrir la bouche, assure-toi que ce que tu vas dire est plus beau que le silence.

Adept Lu spent a night at Stone Date, and the gatekeeper asked: Where are you from? From the House of Confucius, replied Lu. Isn't he the one who knows it's hopeless, but keeps trying anyway?

Si vos parents tombent dans une faute, avertissez-les avec grande douceur. Si vous les voyez déterminés à ne pas suivre vos avis, redoublez vos témoignages de respect, sans vous opposer. Quand même ils vous maltraiteraient, n'en ayez aucun ressentiment. 

The gentleman is dignified but not arrogant. The small man is arrogant but not digified

If the will be set on virtue, there will be no practice of wickedness.