Profession: Philosopher, Politician, Teacher & Book editor
Year of Birth: 28 September 551 BC
Year of Death: 11 April 479 BC
Nationality: Chinese
Who is Confucius? Why is he famous?
Kong Qiu also know as Confucius, a well known Chinese philosopher and politician, taught the moral values of Confucianism. Confucius was an author, he was a man who has written or edited many Chinese classic texts. Confucius expressed and supported the importance of family loyalty, different ways to live a good and peaceful life, his teaching has inspired many all over the world. His saying is still valued by many all over the world, his quotes are read by many to inspire and motive them to live a better life. These quotes will make you understand the importance of life.
- “If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.” – Confucius
- “What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.” – Confucius
- “Learn as if you were not reaching your goal and as though you were scared of missing it.” – Confucius
- “The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.” – Confucius
- “The essence of knowledge is, having it, to apply it not having it, to confess your ignorance.” – Confucius
- “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” – Confucius
- “Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.” – Confucius
- “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.” – Confucius
- “Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.” – Confucius
- “Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?” – Confucius
- “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.” – Confucius
- “When a person should be spoken with, and you don’t speak with them, you lose them. When a person shouldn’t be spoken with and you speak to them, you waste your breath. The wise do not lose people, nor do they waste their breath.” – Confucius
- “To love a thing means wanting it to live.” – Confucius
- “Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.” – Confucius
- “I want you to be everything that’s you, deep at the center of your being.” – Confucius
- “He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.” – Confucius
- “Be strict with yourself but least reproachful of others and complaint is kept afar.” – Confucius
- “It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.” – Confucius
- “Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.” – Confucius
- “Old age, believe me, is a good and pleasant thing. It is true you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator.” – Confucius
- “The nobler sort of man emphasizes the good qualities in others, and does not accentuate the bad. The inferior does.” – Confucius
- “Give a bowl of rice to a man and you will feed him for a day. Teach him how to grow his own rice and you will save his life.” – Confucius
- “Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.” – Confucius
- “He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.” – Confucius
- “When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself.” – Confucius
- “When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points.” – Confucius
- “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” – Confucius
- “To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.” – Confucius
- “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” – Confucius
- “If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.” – Confucius
- “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.” – Confucius
- “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.” – Confucius
- “It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.” – Confucius
- “Isn’t it also great when friends visit from distant places? If one remains not annoyed when he is not understood by people around him, isn’t he a sage?” – Confucius
- “A superior man is modest in his speech,but exceeds in his actions.” – Confucius
- “No matter how busy you make think you are you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.” – Confucius
- “The man of wisdom is never of two minds;
the man of benevolence never worries;
the man of courage is never afraid.” – Confucius - “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” – Confucius
- “The people may be made to follow a path of action, but they may not be made to understand it.” – Confucius
- “If what one has to say is not better than silence, then one should keep silent.” – Confucius
- “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” – Confucius
- “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” – Confucius
- “The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.” – Confucius
- “To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order; we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.” – Confucius
- “A lion chased me up a tree, and I greatly enjoyed the view from the top.” – Confucius
- “It is not possible for one to teach others who cannot teach his own family.” – Confucius
- “You cannot open a book without learning something.” – Confucius
- “If your plan is for one year plant rice. If your plan is for ten years plant trees. If your plan is for one hundred years educate children.” – Confucius
- “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
- “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” – Confucius
- “Virtue is more to man than either water or fire. I have seen men die from treading on water and fire, but I have never seen a man die from treading the course of virtue.” – Confucius
- “Don’t complain about the snow on your neighbor’s roof when your own doorstep is unclean.” – Confucius
- “Instead of being concerned that you have no office, be concerned to think how you may fit yourself for office. Instead of being concerned that you are not known, seek to be worthy of being known.” – Confucius
- “Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.” – Confucius
- “When anger rises, think of the consequences.” – Confucius
- “The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.” – Confucius
- “The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.” – Confucius
- “In a country well-governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.” – Confucius
- “If you are courteous, you will not be disrespected;
if you are generous, you will gain everything.
If you are honest, people will rely on you.
If you are persistent you will get results.
If you are kind, you can employ people.” – Confucius - “Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.” – Confucius
- “Learn advidly. Question it repeatedly. Analyze it carefully. Then put what you have learned into practice intelligently.” – Confucius
- “The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.” – Confucius
- “We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.” – Confucius
- “Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.” – Confucius
- “A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace.” – Confucius