1000+ Best Inspiring Confucius Quotes About Life
Confucius Leadership Quotes
“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.”
“You can’t control your future if you don’t understand your present.”
“Excellence begins with letting go of what you have and embracing what you’re yet to receive.”
“To be an effective leader, read a lot of books that others find boring.”
“The harder you work, the more luck you seem to have.”
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is a miracle.”
“Confucius said: People are like water; when they are changing their minds, it’s very hard to tell what they will do next.”
“Politeness and modesty go hand in hand; they make people assume others respect them even when they do not.”
“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.”
“Perseverance is always rewarded. Eventually.”
“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”
“You can be a great leader even if you’re not the smartest or most talented person in the world as long as you are someone everyone else recognizes as the greatest leader!”
“To lead people walk behind them.”
“A leader should be neither too harsh nor too kind.”
“Never say a word in anger.”
“Be wary of the man who only has one good idea.”
“It’s amazing how a new path opens up before you when you stop to look at something that is already a way on the ground.”
“Even animals know what the voice of love sounds like, and that’s why, when men are alone together, they don’t speak to each other.”
“Be careful when you treat a prince as if he were a mere man, and be careful when you treat a man as if he were a prince.”
“He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.”
“If I believed in reincarnation, I would like to come back as my favorite flower so that I could enjoy life again through others.”
“An ounce of action is worth pounds of theory.
“A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.”
“Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.”
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.”
“Sitting still is a form of death.”
“A superior man understands what is right; a small man knows what is profitable.”
Confucius Philosophy Quotes
“One who is not in touch with his emotions will never be successful in life.”
“True wisdom comes from crossing the threshold between knowing and unknowing.”
“Develop integrity, character, and a reputation for dependability both personally and professionally.”
“Choose to live each day so that it is one you are proud of when you reflect on it at night before sleep or at the end of your life.”
“The more you know, the more you realize how much you don’t know.”
“To lead people, walk behind them.”
“If you would take, you must first give.”
“Do not do unto others what angers you if done to you by others.”
“When someone does evil to us, if we return evil for evil, then we are overcoming evil with evil. But when we overcome evil with good, that is an act of goodness.”
“To know when you have enough is to be rich.”
“Punishing a bad deed must take place before the deed is done, not after.”
“The beginning of wisdom is calling things by their proper names.”
“A man’s reputation is his shadow, how he walks tall and straight in the world so will his shadow be.”
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
“It is when we let go of what we are that we become what we might become.”
“Most of the things people say about life are wrong.”
“Gentle words can break a man’s heart; harsh words can break a man’s bones.”
“A wise person moves with purposeful steps, while a fool moves like a dancing bear.”
Confucius Wisdom Quotes
Change your thoughts and you will change your world.
The wise are never satisfied with themselves, nor do they find their achievements sweet.
What is a man? A miserable little animal who whines because his hunger doesn’t let him eat enough, sleeps when he is tired, and fears tomorrow’s failure?
If you want others to be happy don’t give them more than they can handle..
When a man is tired of Confucius, he is tired of life; for Confucius is more than life.
A leader must be cautious and slow in his speech and quick to listen.
If the people are led by laws which they do not approve, and if they are treated with severity which they do not like, then they will struggle against the laws and oppose the administration.
The superior man’s goodness is their virtue, while the common man’s goodness is their reputation.
It is not because things are difficult that we don’t dare, it is because we don’t dare that things are difficult.
Knowledge of what is right does not make men right.
We see a man who is very diligent in his business and yet remains poor all his life; another who does nothing but amuse himself and yet has a good income.
The Master said, “One who is anxious to learn may be called a scholar. But one who learns but cannot put his learning into practice is a mere book-worm.”
A man of worth does not brag about his merits and virtues: he keeps them to himself..
14..You have heard that it was said “Do onto others as you would have them do unto you.” But I say unto you, do onto others as you would have them do unto you.
Confucius Quotes On Relationships
“Some cut off relationships because they are not getting what they want. Some
” Others enter into relationships with the expectation of getting what they want.”
“Some people extend themselves with sincerity, and others aren’t capable.”
“The person who extends themselves is always the one to gain.”
“Fidelity means faithfulness to that which you love”
“Relationships take a lot of work; it’s really hard to maintain them”
“Sometimes the people dearest to us are those we take for granted the most”
“The person who takes care of the relationship, is the person who gains the most”
“When you take time to invest in your relationships, you win in return.”
“True love is when you see another’s flaws and Love them anyway”
“If you want others to be faithful and reliable, be that way first.”
“When you’re in love, time doesn’t exist. If you love someone, you can give them the world and they would want for nothing.”
“How can we develop people? By showing them what good character is?”
“The person who is severe on others will be severe on themselves”
“A relationship cannot be postponed but a memory can.”
“Relationships cannot be maintained by force”
“What kind of person are you going to be the moment your partner is not around?”
“It’s not a matter of if the relationship will end, but when and what it will look like.”
“As we age, we tend to define what love means to us. We tell others what we want and need.”
“Relationships cannot be moved by force but they can be maintained by effort”
“There’s nothing more unattainable than perfection”
“Don’t approach your partner as if they are a stranger or you’ll lose them”
“Perfection is not achievable, but effort is.”
“Love is something you take care of before someone comes to you looking for it”
“If you want others to be faithful and reliable, be that way first”
“You can control how much effort you put into a relationship, but you cannot control how much your partner puts in”
Confucius Quotes About Family
“When one goes abroad, they should remember to leave a family behind.”
“Do not marry a woman who is too young.”
3.”If you wish to raise a family, be careful about marrying in haste.”
“There are three things that will cause trouble for us away from home: fighting, running out of food, and no water. Among these three, running out of food is the most important.”
“In traveling across the sea, one should have a place to return and never travel without an escort.”
“During a long trip, you should not be fearful when passing through places where people have died.”
“When traveling to another country, do not live recklessly or act sensuously.”
“A good son makes his mother proud, a good daughter honors her father, and a good grandson does what he can for his great-grandmother.”
“You should know how to sacrifice your desires for the sake of the family. For you are not only brothers and sisters but also parents and grandparents.”
“Old people are like candles; they burn unevenly and only give off light when they are near death.”
“When your parents are young, be filial. When they get old, support them.”
“Sons wish their fathers to live a hundred years, and the fathers wish their sons to grow up quickly.”
“One who is filial at home will not be unfilial abroad.”
“To see what is right and not do it is want of courage.”
“The nobleman is never self-righteous.”
“When he goes, the people he leaves behind grieve as for a parent. If you think of your family as your roots, what you get from it is like the strength you gain from the earth and what you give back to it is like the fruits of the trees.”
“If parents are kind, their children will be kind too.”
“A man can do what he wants to do if he puts his mind to it.”
“The superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions.”
“To go against the will of your parents, what a disgrace!”
“The superior man is modest in his speech and courteous in his behavior.”
“The nobleman is concerned about righteousness, the mean man counts on favoritism.”
“When he is old, he (a father) will be long remembered.”
“If they can’t stand you, would they love you just for the money?”
“A man who has a firm grasp on himself and makes good use of his time will find that material things come his way too.”
“The nobleman is not a utensil, but the mean man is.”
“The nobleman is righteous; the mean man favors flattery.”
“The nobleman will not change what has been approved already.”
“One who is not in harmony with his family will not be successful in his work.”
“Without a distaste for meanness, it is impossible to develop refinement and nobility of character.”
“You might be a winner on the outside, but you are still a loser on the inside.”
Inspirational Confucius Quotes
“Walking one mile, you won’t accomplish much. Walking a thousand miles, you will find yourself exhausted.”
“A chestnut is about as big as the tip of an arrow. But if it falls from 50 yards up, what sound will it make?”
“If you want to know yourself and not just your name and surname, don’t pierce your ears to show off.”
“Study the past if you would define the future.”
“The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.”
“To see what is right and not do it is want of courage.”
“Hear much, put aside more, and select something from it. Then reflect alone on this single thing.”
“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”
“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself brings power.”
“To the man who would perfect himself, the art of self-perfection is likelier than to the man who would perfect others.”
“If a man really wants to know what peace is, he must first experience war.”
“Whether you realize it or not, every word that comes out of your mouth shows what you value most.”
“For one hand to be severed, cut off two fingers and seal your lips.”
“Poverty has its advantages if you learn from it. It also has disadvantages if you don’t.”
“If you know others, you know yourself; if you know yourself, you can make clear to others.”
“Confucius said: ‘To learn without studying is useless; to study but not learn is dangerous.’ ”
“There are three things that are sure to happen in a family: when the father is angry, when the mother is sad, and when a wife’s feelings are hurt.”
“The superior man does not stand in awe of his ancestors. He stands in awe of righteousness.”
“With communication comes understanding; with understanding, comes peace; with peace, comes tranquility; with tranquility, comes great achievement.”
“He who is caught up in the moment has missed his boat.”
“It is not easy to be like a child: but it is always a pleasure to be like a child.”
Confucius Quotes on Education
If you want to study a subject, the first thing is to be aware of it and get some idea of what it is.
The best method for students is not simply reading books, but associating them with their meaning in person.
To gain knowledge one must cultivate sincerity and trustworthiness, for how can a man avoid taking his own life before he understands the principles by which he should live?
It would be better to look at one book than ten thousand pictures.
In learning to do anything, the most difficult thing is knowing what to do first.
Even a small task done every day gradually becomes great.
A student who has not mastered a single principle cannot put other principles into practice even if he is familiar with those principles.
Arts and crafts are external accomplishments; rites and music are inventions of the mind.
The superior man is absorbed in principles; the small man is absorbed in externalities.
A woman of tact, who knows how to adjust herself to circumstances, can carry out her husband’s wishes without his having to give a definite order. She need not make a display of solicitude in doing much for him, nor compliment him on his achievements; it is enough for her to do what she does inconspicuously and unobtrusively.
When a man’s virtue is complete, he may regard it as the achievement of other people; when his knowledge is complete, he may regard it as his own achievement; when his self-control is complete, he may look upon himself as an object of admiration.
When a man has nothing to regret in the past, there is nothing about him that can be changed by the future.
A man is not honored by being with a great many people if he is not to others like a small child.
When one has followed the course of life prescribed by circumstances, one’s face shows no disgrace, even if it is lined and worn with age, or even if it becomes wrinkled and bald from old age.
To a man who is at one with himself, the whole universe pays homage.
In all work, accomplishments are the result of diligence; in all family matters, filial devotion is required; in all friendships, mutual trust is essential.
A man who is feeling prosperous is seldom generous; a man who has fallen into misfortune is rarely forgiving.
When speaking or acting we ought to be careful to exceed only the proper measure and not lose sight of propriety.
To know what is right and not to do it is the greatest of crimes.
No one can lead another to knowledge, except by laying the foundation oneself.
If our whole life is full of learning, we will still be short of the knowledge that can be put into practice in daily life.
A man of culture never sinks below his abilities; a man of ability never rises above his culture.
Confucius Quotes About Love
“It is human nature to love those who give us happiness, but to resent those who cause us pain.”
“What we do not wish for ourselves, we wish even less for our children.”
“We should never be ashamed of loving others while they are alive, and being so loved in return by them; it is the one thing that makes life worth living and death bearable.”
“Love is the joy of the good, the wonder of the wise, the amazement of the Gods. It is the oil that prevents friction and the cement that binds together.”
“Seek not a passionate love, for it burns heart and body alike, as if it were a flame; but a calm, deep love. It does not flare up quickly like straw fire, but rather like coals upon the hearth. Such a fire does not go out for lack of fuel but rather from lack of care.”
“We should all be thankful for all the friends we have, but it is especially important to cultivate friends with whom we can be ourselves.”
“Doing without things that are unnecessary is essential in life. Wealth generally is not.”
“There are only three ways of spreading light: to be the candle, the mirror, or the torch that illuminates everything around it.”
“To say what you think and feel, and dare say it loud.”
“For the noble man, what he least allows himself is the indulgence in feeling sorry for himself.”
“If you are not willing to take risks, then you will have a difficult time being successful.”
“Failure is an experience that should be acquired slowly, much like whiskey drinking.”
“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.
Confucius Inspirational Quotes
If you find yourself in a dark forest at night, keep going. There may be a light in the distance.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
People who get rich just to spend it are as foolish as someone who gets drunk just to vomit it up.
Get up before you’re down and work hard before any day is over because there’s always tomorrow – Confucius
Life is what we make of it – Confucius
Most people will tell you that the world is a difficult place to get into. It is, but if you can get in, it’s worth it.
He who has the most knowledge has the least wisdom – Confucius
You must observe before teaching others – Confucius
A good teacher does not mean to produce a good student; and a good student does not mean to become a good teacher – Confucius
If you want to know the right path for you, just start walking.
The difficult part of any journey is simply getting there – Confucius
The key to everything is patience – Confucius
Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it – Confucius
If you want something done well, do it yourself – Confucius
This world is so beautiful, but the process of living in it is not always rewarding – Confucius
When you have exhausted all other possibilities, you may find that your true life’s work lies in a quiet corner of your own heart.
You can lead a horse to water, but cannot make him drink – Confucius
Is there anything more difficult than governing a people?
To know and not to do is the worst kind of ignorance
I am only a man, and men are but the product of their thoughts – Confucius
The best way for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing
Princes and statesmen value friendships over everything else
He who does not concern himself with history is destined to live miserably
Because there is no rule for love, it is easy to give it up – Confucius
Seize the day and it will fly by; seize the moment and it will never pass you
You have to do something in life that you have a passion for – Confucius
We can only achieve excellence by doing our best – Confucius
If you cease to be a beginner, you will no longer be a beginner – Confucius
If you do not act now, if you do not seize the opportunity of this moment, it will never come to you again – Confucius
Those who understand the past can best judge of the future
Action is the child of thought – Confucius
Famous Confucius Quotes
We shouldn’t do to others what we don’t want done to us.
Act as if you were already in Heaven: then when you die the world will be glad for your virtues.
The gentleman is kind; the petty man is cruel; this is heaven’s rule, which cannot be set aside, Heaven’s decree, which must not be altered!
Who knows but that God has planted in our mind an image of Himself?
If people do not fear the law, then they will be bound by their own laws.
If through training a man can be brought to produce harmony and obedience from within himself, then there is no need to force him from without.
A man cannot become a yeoman or an artisan until he knows what is right and what is wrong.
If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it.
To lead the people, walk behind them!
You who say that you are teachers and leaders of men, you are only teaching the people to be like themselves.
All men are mortal; yet it is only the noble who die without regrets.
Gentlemen embody virtue; petty men betray it. Heaven is the rule of all under Heaven; yet there are no two ways about it, no blind or deaf-mute, who can fail to hear its commands!
I’ve been planning to write a book for a long time, and I’ll take advantage of this opportunity to explain some of the fundamental doctrines of our doctrine. They are few in number, so I have only put down five short maxims, and this is the sixth.
When anger rises up in your heart, remain tranquil and composed; maintain your calm, be free from hatred.
The Master said: “To my mind the highest form of wisdom is kindness.
The Master said: “When the will to climb is slack, it is certain that the heart will be lost.”
Scholars who do not exercise their minds become rustic, and then vulgar.
Scholars who do not practice their bodies become rustic, and then vulgar.
Scholars who do not rule their families become rustic, and then vulgar.
When a nobleman smiles, the people sing; when he frowns the people cry!
Confucius Say Quotes
“Change your mind, and you change the world.”
“If you want to go quickly, go alone; if you want to go far, ride with others.”
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
“Once upon a time there was an old man who lived all by himself on a mountain top… But his life wasn’t bad because he could look up in the sky and see how high it was.”
“When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.”
“Men’s natures are alike; it is their habits that carry them far apart.”
“You can’t open a book without learning something.”
“Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he will eat for life.”
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step.”
“To see what is right and not do it is cowardice.”
“A man must cultivate his own garden.”
“Teach your children the difference between right and wrong, and when they grow up, they will never let you down.”
“When anger rises, think of the consequences”
“When one knows others, one knows oneself.”
“As one ages, one should look inside oneself and take a long look at the developments of the past.”
“Don’t talk to a fool because he will not understand you.”
“It is better to have many faults than to have no faults at all.”
“If you do not know how you are going to die, you will never know how to live.”
“If you want to know what people will do, sit by the riverbank on a hot day and watch: the fishermen will do whatever it takes not to catch a fish.”
“When a man is tired of talking about himself it is because he has run out of things to say.”
“The more I see of man, the more I like my dog better”.
“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.”
“Silence is a true friend who never betrays.”
“If you see a good act, point it out to your neighbor. And if you see one that’s not so good, help correct it.”
“Better to light a candle than curse the darkness.”
“A good conscience is a continual feast.”
“When anger rises, think of the consequences.”
“All men can be criminals, if tempted; all men can be heroes, if inspired.”
“The more laws, the less justice.”
“The parent who is physically strong but spiritually weak may produce offspring that are physically weak but spiritually strong.”
“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”
“The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. The more weapons you have, the less secure people will be.”
“Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.”
“To know what is right and not to do it is the worst cowardice.”
“Don’t lie to a man because he is older than you.”
“The more laws, the less justice.”
“When you see someone who is better off than you are, make the other person feel that way.”
“Don’t disturb a man when he is making music”
“When to speak and when not to speak is always knowledge.”
“The best protection against temptation is the presence of people who know you well enough not to trust you.”
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”
“There are three things which cannot long be hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”
“To lead people, walk beside them… As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence.”
“If you want to know people, sit by the riverbank on a hot day and watch: the fishermen will do whatever it takes not to catch a fish.”
“A man can live without fire, but not without warmth.”
“The highest happiness is always in doing one’s duties.”
“When you feel yourself slipping backwards, look up.”
“Being rude is useless when it can be avoided.”
“There are two types of people: those who are handicapped by their own kindness, and those who possess the strength to overcome it.”
“The best things in life cannot be bought or reasoned into existence.”
“I hear a lot of talk about simplicity, but I’m not sure what it means.”
“In light of your knowledge, fear is ignorance.”
Funny Confucius Quotes
- “Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone”
- “It is better to light one small candle than curse the darkness.”
- “I hear, I forget. I see, I remember. I do, and understand.”
- “Don’t say a word when angry; what you say first won’t be worth listening to.”
- “When people do not respect themselves like they should then others will not respect them either.
- “When you realize you have done something wrong, immediately change the way you are doing things.”
- “When you see an opportunity to correct someone then seize it as soon as possible.”
- “You should not expect other people to change until you are willing to change yourself.”
- “If people don’t respect themselves then others will not respect them either.”
- “A wise man never loses anything if he is calm in his moments of decision.”
- “What you don’t know won’t hurt you.”
- “If you want to know the truth, it is your responsibility to find it out for yourself.”
- “When your neighbour’s house catches fire, help him with water; if he refuses, then tell him that his house is on fire.”
- “If a man has done nothing wrong and treats others kindly then what reason is there not to be kind back to him?”
- “When you go to bed at night, reflect upon what you have done during the day. If you are contented with what you have done then let it be as if you had gained your victory for the day.”
- “If a man is able to recognize his faults and accept responsibility for them then he is not only a man but truly great as well.”
- “If your friend does something wrong, ask him about it; if he forgives himself and makes amends then forgive him too.”
- “There are three ways to avoid having to offend someone: you can hint at the contrary without actually saying so, you can let them know that you know what they have done without saying so, or you can ask them yourself.”
- “Do not speak when you are angry; it is better to remain silent than to spoil your own words with anger and hurt people’s feelings.”
- “Do not raise your voice at a man unless he has some mark of distinction about him such as being highly educated or wealthy.”
- “If you are wrong about a person, apologize. If you are right, forget it.”
- “Parents will have children who are like themselves. So if parents want to see goodness in their children then they should learn to be good themselves.”
- “When you realize that you have done something wrong, your duty is to put it right and never do it again.”
- “The best way to become a good man is to become a good son first.”
- “If someone does something wrong and you speak to them about it, then it is as if you are raising your voice at them.”
- “If a man has done nothing wrong and treats others kindly then what reason is there not to be kind back to him?”
- “When you see an opportunity to correct someone then seize it as soon as possible.”
- “When you realize that you have done something wrong, your duty is to put it right and never do it again.”
Confucius Quotes About Life
- Life is like a door. Eat the meat and spit out the bones.
- Seeds require water to grow, while weeds need water to die..
- When two men go down into the dark, they must hold hands or they will be afraid of each other in the dark.
- The person who hears many lectures thinks for himself; he is not dependent on someone else’s thinking.-Confucius
- “When you are wronged, take revenge’- Confucius
- A thing which is wrong when done by one is wrong when done by many- Confucius
- To punish him who strikes you, is to be the slave of your enemy.- Confucius
- Quitting time is the best leisure.- Confucius
- If a man has no learning though he be rich, yet if he has no learning how can he be called rich?-Confucius
- Better to light a candle than curse the darkness.- Confucius
- If you want to be respected by others the great thing is to respect yourself.-Confucius
- It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.- Confucius
- The most difficult thing in the world is to know how to do a thing and not do it.- Confucius
- In education, what you spend time on depends on what you value.- Confucius
- Those who are near see only the surface of things, And those who are far off see their hearts.-Confucius
- The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance- Confucius
- There is a will to act because there is a will to live.-Confucius
- To be fond of learning is to be near knowledge – Confucius
- The wise have no limits on learning, while the ignorant have none to ignorance.-Confucius
- If you do not change your direction, no one can help you – Confucius
- What you are is determined by what you think.- Confucius
- The greatest calamity is having a mean or faulty nature.-Confucius
- A long time ago, I saw my father cut down in anger.
- We live in the world of the five elements: earth, water, fire, wind and sky.-Confucius
- The best school for a child is at home.
- The best school for a child is at home.
- Knowledge without practice is useless. Practice without knowledge is dangerous.-Confucius
- To begin with, the superior man keeps his mind always on what is right and not on what is wrong.-Confucius
- Do not boast about your accomplishments in real life, because others will make fun of you- Confucius
- Do not boast about your accomplishments in real life, because others will make fun of you- Confucius
- It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.- Confucius
- It is said that parents are able to teach their children only by example- Confucius
- Make it a habit to tell the truth and you will never have to remember what you said.-Confucius
- Make it a habit to tell the truth and you will never have to remember what you said.-Confucius
- The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.-Confucius
- The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.-Confucius
- When three people gather together, there will be a discussion of right and wrong- Confucius
- When three people gather together, there will be a discussion of right and wrong- Confucius
- The superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions.-Confucius
- The superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions.-Confucius
