Confucius (/kənˈfjuːʃəs/ kən-FEW-shəs; 551 BC – 479 BC) was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history.
If a man be under the influence of anger his conduct will not be correct.
The gentleman has nine cares. In seeing he is careful to see clearly; in hearing he is careful to hear distinctly; in his looks he is careful to be kind, in his manner to be respectful, in his words to be sincere, in his work to be diligent. When in doubt he is careful to ask for information; when angry he has a care for the consequences; and when he sees a chance for gain, he thinks carefully whether the pursuits of it would be right.
In a hamlet of ten households, there are bound to be those who are my equal in doing their best for others and in being trustworthy in what they say, but they are unlikely to be as eager to learn as I am.
While the gentleman cherishes benign rule, the small man cherishes his native land. While the gentleman cherishes a respect for the law, the small man cherishes generous treatment.
The man of wisdom is never of two minds; the man of benevolence never worries; the man of courage is never afraid.
The demands that a great man makes are on himself; those of a petty man are upon others.
Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.
When you are laboring for others, let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself.
How should I know anything about another world when I know so little of this?
If you know, say you know. If you don't know, say you don't know.
To study and constantly, is this not a pleasure? To have friends come from far away places, is this not a joy? If people do not recognize your worth, but this does not worry you, are you not a true gentleman?
I'd rather die for speaking out, than to live and be silent.
Wisdom is worried for being slow in its speech and expeditious in its actions.
Being in humaneness is good. If we select other goodness and thus are far apart from humaneness, how can we be the wise?
When I walk along with two others, from at least one I will be able to learn.
Everyone calls his son his son, whether he has talents or has not talents.
What you do not wish upon yourself, extend not to others.
The gods should certainly be revered, but kept at a distance. . . . The way is not beyond man; he who creates a way outside of man cannot make it a true way. A good man is content with changing man, and that is enough for him.
To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.
If I cannot get men who steer a middle course to associate with, I would far rather have the impetuous and hasty. For the impetuous at any rate assert themselves.