Confucius
Kong Qiu
551-479 BCE • Chinese
Chinese philosopher and teacher whose ethical and political teachings — preserved by his students in the Analects — became the foundation of Chinese civilization. His teaching centers on ren (humaneness), li (propriety), and the cultivation of the noble person.
Key Works
- Analects (trans. Legge 1893)
- Doctrine of the Mean
- Great Learning
112
quotes in library
Quotes by Confucius
112 quotes“To remain content in want, and yet not to murmur — that is hard.”
contentmentAnalects 14.10
“The cautious seldom err — and the modest seldom regret.”
prudenceAnalects 4.23
“Without virtue, neither riches nor honor have meaning.”
virtueAnalects 4.5
“The virtuous rest in virtue; the wise desire virtue.”
virtueAnalects 4.2
“Wherever I go, I find one who can teach me — even among three persons walking together.”
learningAnalects 7.21
“I select what is good in them, and follow it.”
learningAnalects 7.21
“What is bad in them, and I avoid.”
learningAnalects 7.21
“Without recognizing the ordinances of Heaven, it is impossible to be a superior man.”
destinyAnalects 20.3
“Without an acquaintance with the rules of propriety, it is impossible for the character to be established.”
proprietyAnalects 20.3
“Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know men.”
languageAnalects 20.3
“What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.”
wisdomAnalects
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