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Confucius Quotes

Philosopher

Confucius was a foundational philosopher whose teachings shaped moral thought, education, and governance for centuries. His insights focus on virtue, self-discipline, and harmonious relationships, offering guidance for both personal growth and social responsibility. The following quotes capture the timeless wisdom of his philosophy and its relevance to everyday life.

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Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.
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If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.
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When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.
From The Sayings of Confucius
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If a craftsman wants to do good work, he must first sharpen his tools.
From The Analects
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If you want to make a stand, help others make a stand, and if you want to reach your goal, help others reach their goal. Consider yourself and treat others accordingly: this is the method of Humanity.
From The Analects
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Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
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It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.
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No lake so still but it has its wave.
No circle so perfect but that it has its blur.
I would change things for you if I could; As I can't you must take them as they are.
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Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.
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Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
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If your desire is for good, the people will be good.
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Life is really simple, but men insist on making it complicated.
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The noble-minded worry about their lack of ability, not about people’s failure to recognize their ability.
From The Analects
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It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.
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It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.
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Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.
From The Analects
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Don’t grieve when people fail to recognize your ability. Grieve for your lack of ability instead.
From The Analects
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The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat.
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He who learns but does not think is lost. He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.
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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.
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The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.
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The Man who says he can, and the man who says he can not.. Are both correct
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It is when those who are not strong enough have made some moderate amount of progress that they fail and give up...
From The Wisdom of Confucius
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Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.
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Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.
From The Sayings of Confucius
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
If a craftsman wants to do good work, he must first sharpen his tools.
From The Analects
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
If you want to make a stand, help others make a stand, and if you want to reach your goal, help others reach their goal. Consider yourself and treat others accordingly: this is the method of Humanity.
From The Analects
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
No lake so still but it has its wave.
No circle so perfect but that it has its blur.
I would change things for you if I could; As I can't you must take them as they are.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
If your desire is for good, the people will be good.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Life is really simple, but men insist on making it complicated.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
The noble-minded worry about their lack of ability, not about people’s failure to recognize their ability.
From The Analects
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It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.
From The Analects
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Don’t grieve when people fail to recognize your ability. Grieve for your lack of ability instead.
From The Analects
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
He who learns but does not think is lost. He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
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.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
The Man who says he can, and the man who says he can not.. Are both correct
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
It is when those who are not strong enough have made some moderate amount of progress that they fail and give up...
From The Wisdom of Confucius
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.
From The Sayings of Confucius
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
If a craftsman wants to do good work, he must first sharpen his tools.
From The Analects
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
If you want to make a stand, help others make a stand, and if you want to reach your goal, help others reach their goal. Consider yourself and treat others accordingly: this is the method of Humanity.
From The Analects
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
No lake so still but it has its wave.
No circle so perfect but that it has its blur.
I would change things for you if I could; As I can't you must take them as they are.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
If your desire is for good, the people will be good.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Life is really simple, but men insist on making it complicated.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
The noble-minded worry about their lack of ability, not about people’s failure to recognize their ability.
From The Analects
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.
From The Analects
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Don’t grieve when people fail to recognize your ability. Grieve for your lack of ability instead.
From The Analects
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
He who learns but does not think is lost. He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
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.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
The Man who says he can, and the man who says he can not.. Are both correct
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
It is when those who are not strong enough have made some moderate amount of progress that they fail and give up...
From The Wisdom of Confucius
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Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
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