A superior man is the one who is free from fear and anxieties.
—Confucius
Topics: Fear
The superior man has nothing to compete for. But if he must compete, he does it in an archery match, wherein he ascends to his position, bowing in deference. Descending, he drinks the ritual cup.
—Confucius
Topics: Character
If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.
—Confucius
Topics: Mistakes
When prosperity comes, do not use all of it.
—Confucius
Topics: Success & Failure, Prosperity
Great as heaven and earth are, men still find some things in them with which to be dissatisfied. Thus it is that, were the superior man to speak of his way in all its greatness, nothing in the world would be found able to embrace it, and were he to speak of it in its minuteness, nothing in the world would be found able to split it.
—Confucius
Topics: Character
Tzu-kung asked, ‘Is there a single word which can be a guide to conduct throughout one’s life?’ The Master said, ‘It is perhaps the word ‘shu.’ Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.
—Confucius
Topics: Love, How to Live, Life
Those who break down the dikes will themselves be drowned in the inundation.
—Confucius
Topics: Life
In all things success depends on previous preparation, and without such previous preparation there is sure to be failure.
—Confucius
Topics: Mistakes, Preparation, Strength, Failure
Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.
—Confucius
Topics: Friends, Friendship
The injury of prodigality leads to this, that he that will not economize will have to agonize.
—Confucius
Topics: Economy, Waste, How to Live, Thrift
I want you to be everything that’s you, deep at the center of your being.
—Confucius
Topics: Motivation, How to Live, Motivational
If a man be under the influence of anger his conduct will not be correct.
—Confucius
Topics: Blame, Anger
What the great learning teaches, is to illustrate illustrious virtue; to renovate the people; and to rest in the highest excellence.
—Confucius
Topics: Virtue
Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.
—Confucius
Topics: Character
The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.
—Confucius
The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.
—Confucius
Topics: Faults, Mistakes
The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.
—Confucius
Topics: Simplicity, Virtue
Worry not that no one knows of you; seek to be worth knowing.
—Confucius
Topics: Worry
Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know men.
—Confucius
Topics: Words
How great is the path proper to the Sage! Like overflowing water, it sends forth and nourishes all things, and rises up to the height of heaven. All-complete is its greatness! It embraces the three hundred rules of ceremony, and the three thousand rules of demeanor. It waits for the proper man, and then it is trodden. Hence it is said, ‘Only by perfect virtue can the perfect path, in all its courses, be made a fact.’
—Confucius
Topics: How to Live
To go too far is as bad as to fall short.
—Confucius
Topics: Excess
He who merely knows right principles is not equal to him who loves them.
—Confucius
Topics: Principles
Have no friends not equal to yourself.
—Confucius
Topics: Friends and Friendship, Friendship
The superior man is satisfied and composed; the mean man is always full of distress.
—Confucius
Topics: Happiness
To be in one’s own heart in kindly sympathy with all things; this is the nature of righteousness
—Confucius
Topics: Sympathy
If you lead the people with correctness, who will dare not be correct?
—Confucius
Topics: Leadership, Leaders
Tsze-Kung asked, saying, “is there one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one’s life?” The Master said, “Is not Reciprocity such a word? What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.”
—Confucius
Topics: Words
When you see a worthy person, endeavor to emulate him. When you see an unworthy person, then examine your inner self.
—Confucius
Topics: Service
Can there be a love which does not make demands on its object?
—Confucius
Topics: Love, Heart
Person who chases two rabbits catches neither.
—Confucius
There are three marks of a superior man; being virtuous, he is free from anxiety; being wise, he is free from perplexity; being brave, he is free from fear.
—Confucius
Topics: Man, Happiness, Greatness, Fear
Being in humaneness is good. If we select other goodness and thus are far apart from humaneness, how can we be the wise?
—Confucius
Topics: How to Live
Gravity is only the bark of wisdom; but it preserves it.
—Confucius
To see what is right, and not do it, is want of courage, or of principle.
—Confucius
Topics: Right, Perception, Courage, Character, Success
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.
—Confucius
Topics: Learning, Knowledge
Not to alter one’s faults is to be faulty indeed.
—Confucius
Topics: Faults, Mistakes
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.
—Confucius
Topics: Virtues, Habits, Kindness, Virtue, Generosity
The superior man wishes to be slow in his words, and earnest in his conduct.
—Confucius
Topics: Moderation
It is man that makes truth great, not truth that makes man great.
—Confucius
Topics: Truth
The object of the superior man is truth.
—Confucius
Topics: Truth
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Lin Yutang Chinese Author, Philologist
Socrates Ancient Greek Philosopher
Pythagoras Greek Philosopher
Heraclitus Ancient Greek Philosopher
Cicero Roman Philosopher
Lucretius Roman Epicurean Philosopher