Inspirational Quotes by Confucius (Chinese Philosopher)

Inspirational Quotations by Confucius (Chinese Philosopher)

Confucius (551–479 BCE) was a Chinese teacher, philosopher, and political theorist considered one of Chinese history’s most influential minds. He was not a religious leader; a follower once declared, “The Master never talked about spiritual beings, disorder, extraordinary things, or feats of strength.”

Born during the Zhou dynasty’s reign, near today’s Qufu in Shandong Province, Confucius’s original name was Kong Qiu. Later he was elevated to Kongfuzi (meaning “Master Kong” in recognition of his works,) which has come down to us as the Latinized Confucius.

Confucius was sent out to labor at age three to provide for his family after his father’s death. He took minor government jobs when he was a teenager and made an effort to search for erudite masters to educate him in the six arts: ritual, music, archery, chariot driving, calligraphy, and arithmetic. He then began to turn his thoughts to questions of morality and ethics.

Confucius’s primary ambition in life was to be a government administrator and put his philosophical ideas into action. But he became disenchanted with the activities of the rulers he served. He disapproved of what he observed as the moral degeneration of China after years of political conflict. He then became an itinerant teacher.

Much of Confucius’s work has survived as the Analects. His collection of sayings and ideas has survived through the Chinese oral tradition. His writings were first translated into English by the Scottish sinologist James Legge in 1867. Oxford University published a more understandable translation in 1907.

After Confucius’s death, Confucianism shaped the foundation for China’s state ideology and world philosophy. Confucius has dominated the thought and traditions of the Chinese for centuries, sometimes confronting but generally interrelating well with Buddhism and Daoism.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Confucius

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