50 Superb Quotes of Confucius

1. It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.
2. Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
3. 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.
4. Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
5. Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
6. Wherever you go, go with all your heart.
7. When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.
8. By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.
9. Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
10. I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
11. It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get.
12. Silence is a true friend who never betrays.
13. Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.
14. Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.
15. In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.
16. The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.
17. To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.
18. He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. You cannot open a book without learning something.
22. To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.
23. When anger rises, think of the consequences.
24. Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.
25. Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
26. Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.
27. The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.
28. It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.
29. The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.
30. 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.
31. What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.
32. The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.
33. Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.
34. We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression.
35. 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.
36. Study the past, if you would divine the future.
37. Virtuous people often revenge themselves for the constraints to which they submit by the boredom which they inspire.
38. A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
39. A gentleman would be ashamed should his deeds not match his words.
40. 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.
41. Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?
42. He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.
43. Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.
44. To see the right and not to do it is cowardice.
45. The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.
46. The book salesman should be honored because he brings to our attention, as a rule, the very books we need most and neglect most.
47. I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand.
48. 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.
49. If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?
50. 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.