Confucius Quotes, Status, and Thoughts

Do not worry if others do not understand you. Instead worry if you do not understand others.

Teachers open the door ... you enter by yourself.

As the water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it, so a wise man adapts himself to circumstances.

He who fails to prepare, prepares to fail

If you chase two rabbits, you catch none.

Act with kindness but do not expect gratitude.

You judge yourself by what you think you can achieve, others judge you by what have achieved.

The noble-minded are calm and steady. Little people are forever fussing and fretting.

Knowledge without practice is useless. Practice without knowledge is dangerous.

If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?

We are so busy doing the urgent that we don't have time to do the important.

All the darkness in the world can't put out the light of one candle.

Happiness does not consist in having what you want, but in wanting what you have

The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.

Expect much from yourself and little from others and you will avoid incurring resentments

The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.

Three things cannot long be hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.

Keep it simple and focus on what matters. Don't let yourself be overwhelmed.

If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.

A great man is hard on himself; a small man is hard on others.

Tell people - and they may forget... show them - they may remember... but involve them and they will understand.

Every house guest brings you happiness. Some when they arrive, and some when they are leaving.

If you yourself desire establishment, then help others to get establishment; if you yourself want success, then help others to attain success.

A man is great not because he hasn't failed; a man is great because failure hasn't stopped him.

He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

They must often change who would remain constant in happiness and wisdom.

Study the past, if you would divine the future.

Worry not that no one knows you; seek to be worth knowing.

When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.

A fool despises good counsel, but a wise man takes it to heart.

All good things are difficult to achieve, and all bad things are very easy to get.

Without an acquaintance with the rules of propriety, it is impossible for the character to be established.

I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge; I am one who is fond of antiquity, and earnest in seeking it there.

Men’s natures are alike, it is their habits that carry them far apart.

The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.

Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.

Your life is what your thoughts make it.

The gem cannot be polished without friction nor man without trials.

A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace.

The book salesman should be honored because he brings to our attention, as a rule, the very books we need most and neglect most.

Ability will never catch up with the demand for it.

Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.

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

“I will not be concerned at other men’s not knowing me; I will be concerned at my own want of ability.

The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.

I will not be concerned at other men’s not knowing me; I will be concerned at my own want of ability.

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.

To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.

When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself.

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

I want you to be everything that’s you, deep at the center of your being.

Study the past, if you would define the future.

Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.

A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.

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

If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.

You cannot open a book without learning something.

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.

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

To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.

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.

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

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

Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star.

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.

He who will not economize will have to agonize.

When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.

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

Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.

A superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions.

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

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

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

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

Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart

Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.

Study the past if you would define the future.

Have no friends not equal to yourself.

Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.

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.

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.

Silence is a true friend who never betrays.

Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

Respect yourself and others will respect you.

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

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

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

Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.

Men's natures are alike, it is their habits that carry them far apart.

Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue.

To see what is right, and not to do it, is want of courage or of principle.

Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.

To be able under all circumstances to practice five things constitutes perfect virtue; these five things are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.

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

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

It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.

When anger rises, think of the consequences.

In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.

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

What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.