Confucian Quotes
There are many more, but these are
my favourite Confucius quotes; it is astonishing how many of them have made it into the vernacular, but
remember ... The term 'quote' must be taken in the proper spirit, as a
paraphrase representing his sentiments, not as an exact transcript.
Think good. Speak good. Do good.
There is only one
problem in the world, people can’t see reality and when confronted with it they
can’t deal with it.
(The above are my own words, based on
Confucius' contention that social disorder stemmed from failure to perceive,
understand and deal with reality; I use the statement as the introduction to my book
en.light.en.ment … see also my essay FREE
& PROSPEROUS.)
You can move mountains, you can move rivers,
but you can't change a man's mind.
If you want freedom, give others freedom;
if you want prosperity, give others prosperity.
By three methods we
may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation,
which is easiest; third by experience, which is the hardest.
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I
understand.
Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two
graves.
Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.
Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.
He who will not economize will have to agonize.
It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you
do not stop.
Men's natures are alike, it is their habits that
carry them far apart.
Our greatest glory is not in never falling,
but in
getting up every time we do.
Respect yourself and others will respect you.
What the superior man
seeks is in himself;
what the small man seeks is in others.
When anger rises,
think of the consequences.
When you know a thing,
hold that you know it;
when you do not know a thing, allow that you do not know
it -
this is knowledge.
Life is really simple,
but we insist on making it complicated.
Choose a job you love,
and you will never have to work
a day in your life.
The superior man is
modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
When it is obvious
that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action
steps.
A journey of a
thousand miles begins with a single step.
Only the wisest and
stupidest of men never change.
He who learns but does
not think, is lost;
he who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.
The superior man
thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.