Confucius quotes

“Look at the means which a man employs, consider his motives, observe his pleasures. A man simply cannot conceal himself!”

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

“Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.”

— Confucius

“Old age, believe me, is a good and pleasant thing. It is true you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator.”

— Confucius

“Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.”

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

“Silence is a true friend who never betrays.”

— Confucius

“Speak the truth, do not yield to anger; give, if thou art asked for little; by these three steps thou wilt go near the gods.”

— Confucius

“Study the past, if you would divine the future.”

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

“The cautious seldom err.”

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

“The faults of a superior person are like the sun and moon. They have their faults, and everyone sees them; they change and everyone looks up to them.”

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

“The object of the superior man is truth.”

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

“The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.”

— Confucius

“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.”

— Confucius

“The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”

— Confucius

“The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest; success only comes later. ”

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

“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.”

— Confucius

“There are three methods to gaining wisdom. The first is reflection, which is the highest. The second is limitation, which is the easiest. The third is experience, which is the bitterest.”

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

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

— Confucius

“To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.”

— Confucius