Confucius

Chinese philosopher, founder of Confucianism

Ancient influential 143 sayings

Sayings by Confucius

To worship ancestors whom one does not know is to be presumptuous.

c. 5th century BCE — Analects 2.24
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

It is man that can make the Way great, and not the Way that can make man great.

c. 5th century BCE — Analects 15.29
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The gentleman is not a tool.

c. 5th century BCE — Analects 2.12
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.

c. 5th century BCE — Analects 1.8
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I have not seen a man who loves benevolence, or one who hates what is not benevolent. A man who loves benevolence will not place anything above it. A man who hates what is not benevolent will practice benevolence in such a way that he will not allow anything that is not benevolent to approach his person.

c. 5th century BCE — Analects 4.6
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The student of virtue has no time for idleness.

c. 5th century BCE — Analects 1.14
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.

c. 5th century BCE — Analects 2.17
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.

c. 5th century BCE — Analects 2.15
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.

c. 5th century BCE — Analects 15.20
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

Is it not a pleasure, having learned something, to try it out at due intervals?

c. 5th century BCE — Analects 1.1
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

When you see a good man, try to emulate his example, and when you see a bad man, search yourself for his faults.

c. 5th century BCE — Analects 4.17
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.

c. 5th century BCE — Analects 1.8
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.

c. 5th century BCE — Analects 7.21
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.

c. 5th century BCE — Analects 14.29
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

A man without constancy cannot be a diviner or a physician.

c. 5th century BCE — Analects 13.22
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

The noble-minded are calm and steady. Little people are forever fussing and fretting.

c. 5th century BCE — Analects 7.37
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue... gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.

c. 5th century BCE — Analects 17.6
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The gentleman has nothing to contend for.

c. 5th century BCE — Analects 3.7
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know men.

c. 5th century BCE — Analects 20.3
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The superior man thinks of virtue; the small man thinks of comfort.

c. 5th century BCE — Analects 4.11
Strange & Unusual Confirmed