Looking for wisdom to inspire and enlighten your day? You’re in the right place. Here’s a list of 101 profound Confucius quotes that will spark reflection and insight in no time.
- “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
- “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
- “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”
- “When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.”
- “The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”
- “What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.”
- “To see what is right and not do it is the want of courage.”
- “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
- “Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.”
- “When anger rises, think of the consequences.”
- “Respect yourself and others will respect you.”
- “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.”
- “The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.”
- “Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.”
- “He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.”
- “Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation, there is sure to be failure.”
- “To see what is right and not do it is the want of courage.”
- “Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.”
- “When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.”
- “He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.”
- “The cautious seldom err.”
- “Study the past if you would define the future.”
- “Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star.”
- “To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.”
- “By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.”
- “Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.”
- “The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.”
- “An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.”
- “The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.”
- “A fool despises good counsel, but a wise man takes it to heart.”
- “The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”
- “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.”
- “If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.”
- “The superior man is firm in the right way, and not afraid of external consequences.”
- “The scholar does not consider gold and jade to be precious treasures, but loyalty and good faith.”
- “The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.”
- “Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.”
- “A youth, when at home, should be filial and abroad respectful to his elders. He should be earnest and truthful. He should overflow in love to all and cultivate the friendship of the good.”
- “A superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions.”
- “He who learns but does not think is lost. He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.”
- “Isn’t it a pleasure to study and practice what you have learned?”
- “Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.”
- “Never give a sword to a man who can’t dance.”
- “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.”
- “To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.”
- “To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.”
- “Those who cannot forgive others break the bridge over which they themselves must pass.”
- “When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.”
- “He who acts with a constant view to his own advantage will be much murmured against.”
- “Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?”
- “Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.”
- “Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.”
- “To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.”
- “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”
- “If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.”
- “Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.”
- “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.”
- “A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”
- “Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.”
- “The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his actions.”
- “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”
- “They must often change who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.”
- “The superior man is easy to serve but difficult to please.”
- “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.”
- “If there were one word that could act as a standard of conduct for one’s entire life, perhaps it would be ‘reciprocity.'”
- “The object of the superior man is truth.”
- “To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue. These five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.”
- “He who is really kind can never be unhappy.”
- “To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.”
- “Study the past if you would define the future.”
- “An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.”
- “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”
- “By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.”
- “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.”
- “The superior man cannot be known in little matters, but he may be entrusted with great concerns.”
- “When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.”
- “The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his actions.”
- “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.”
- “To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness.”
- “He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.”
- “Silence is a true friend who never betrays.”
- “When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.”
- “The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”
- “The superior man is satisfied and composed; the mean man is always full of distress.”
- “The way of the superior man is threefold: Virtuous, he is free from anxieties; Wise, he is free from perplexities; Bold, he is free from fear.”
- “Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.”
- “Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.”
- “He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.”
- “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.”
- “The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”
- “If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.”
- “The object of the superior man is truth.”
- “Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.”
- “They must often change who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.”
- “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.”
- “If we don’t know life, how can we know death?”
- “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”
- “The superior man cannot be known in little matters, but he may be entrusted with great concerns.”
- “To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.”
- “By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.”
- “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”