Looking for famous quotes by Confucius? We have rounded up the best collection of Confucius quotes, sayings, proverbs, (with images and pictures) to inspire you with his wise words about love, life, success, wisdom, and leadership.
Who Was Confucius?
Confucius was a Chinese philosopher and teacher who lived from 551 to 479 B.C.E. He was also a politician of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages.
Also See: Sun Tzu Quotes
Confucius’s teachings and philosophy underpin East Asian culture and society, remaining influential across China and East Asia to this day.
His philosophical teachings, called Confucianism, emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice, kindness, and sincerity.
Confucianism believes in ancestor worship and human-centered virtues for living a peaceful life.
These popular and timeless words of wisdom by Confucius are a great guide to a better life. These deep quotes by Confucius give insight into the meaning of life, love, education, morals, ethics, and more aspects of life.
Famous Books Of Confucius – Confucius The Complete Confucius: The Analects, The Doctrine Of The Mean, and The Great Learning.
Top 10 Confucius Quotes To Live By
- “Sincerity is the way of heaven.” – Confucius
confucius sayings
- “A man of wisdom delights in water.” – Confucius
- “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” – Confucius
quotes from confucius
- “When anger rises, think of the consequences.” – Confucius
- “Roads were made for journeys, not destinations.” – Confucius
confucius quotes on life
- “Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.” – Confucius
- “We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression.” – Confucius
- “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” – Confucius
- “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius
- “Learn as if you were not reaching your goal and as though you were scared of missing it.” – Confucius
Famous Confucius Quotes & Sayings
- “To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.” – Confucius
- “Silence is a true friend who never betrays.” – Confucius
confucius quotes
- “To understand yourself is the key to wisdom.” – Confucius
- “If we don’t know life, how can we know death?” – Confucius
- “Faithfulness and sincerity are the highest things.” – Confucius
- “Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.” – Confucius
- “Anyone can find the switch after the lights are on.” – Confucius
- “When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.” – Confucius
- “The way you cut your meat reflects the way you live.” – Confucius
- “And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.” – Confucius
- “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.” – Confucius
- “Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.” – Confucius
- “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” – Confucius
sayings of confucius
- “To be wealthy and honored in an unjust society is a disgrace.” – Confucius
- “Three things cannot long be hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” – Confucius
- “To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage, or of principle.” – Confucius
- “Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.” – Confucius
- “Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly.” – Confucius
- “Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.” – Confucius
- “They must often change who would remain constant in happiness and wisdom.” – Confucius
- “A lack of patience in trifling matters might lead to the disruption of great project.” – Confucius
- “Don’t complain about the snow on your neighbor’s roof when your own doorstep is unclean.” – Confucius
- “Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.” – Confucius
- “Knowing something is not as good as liking it. Liking something is not as good as rejoicing in it.” – 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
- “If you think in terms of a year, plants a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; and if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.” – Confucius
- “To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.” – Confucius
- “Let the states of equilibrium and harmony exist in perfection, and a happy order will prevail throughout heaven and earth, and all things will be nourished and flourish.” – Confucius
- “First there must be order and harmony within your own mind. Then this order will spread to your family, then to the community, and finally to your entire kingdom. Only then can you have peace and harmony.” – 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
Inspiring Quotes By Confucius
- “You are what you think.” – Confucius
confucianism sayings
- “Have no friends not equal to yourself.” – Confucius
- “The object of the superior man is truth.” – Confucius
- “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” – Confucius
most famous confucius quotes
- “He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.” – Confucius
- “Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.” – Confucius
confucius quotes images
- “What you do not wish upon yourself, extend not to others.” – Confucius
- “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.” – Confucius
- “To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it.” – Confucius
- “Ah, music, sacred tongue of God! I hear thee calling and I come.” – Confucius
- “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” – Confucius
- “By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.” – Confucius
- “Straight-forwardness, without the rules of propriety, becomes rudeness.” – Confucius
- “Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?” – Confucius
- “It is not possible for one to teach others who cannot teach his own family.” – Confucius
- “To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.” – Confucius
- “To be truly happy and contented, you must let go of what it means to be happy or content.” – Confucius
- “Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honors depend upon heaven.” – Confucius
- “The people may be made to follow a path of action but they may not be made to understand it.” – Confucius
- “The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.” – Confucius
- “When the multitude detests a man, inquiry is necessary; when the multitude likes a man, inquiry is equally necessary.” – Confucius
- “No matter how busy you make think you are you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.” – 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
- “There are three degrees of filial piety. The highest is being a credit to our parents, the second is not disgracing them; the lowest is being able simply to support them.” – Confucius
- “There are three methods to gaining wisdom. The first is a reflection, which is the highest. The second is a limitation, which is the easiest. The third is experience, which is the bitterest.” – Confucius
Funny Confucius Quotes
- “One joy dispels a hundred cares.” – Confucius
- “A person who chases two rabbits catches neither.” – Confucius
confucius quotes funny
- “You cannot open a book without learning something.” – Confucius
- “To lead uninstructed people to war is to throw them away.” – Confucius
- “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” – Confucius
- “The parents’ age must be remembered, both for joy and anxiety.” – Confucius
- “To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness.” – Confucius
- “A gentleman would be ashamed should his deeds not match his words.” – Confucius
- “A lion chased me up a tree, and I greatly enjoyed the view from the top.” – Confucius
- “A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do we know that his future will not be equal to our present?” – Confucius
Confucius Quotes About Work And Success
- “Do not let a leader lead you on a bad path.” – Confucius
- “Study the past, if you would divine the future.” – Confucius
- “The essence of knowledge is, having it, to use it.” – Confucius
- “He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.” – Confucius
confucius quotes wisdom
- “If you try to do too much, you will not achieve anything.” – Confucius
- “A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.” – Confucius
- “If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.” – Confucius
- “He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.” – Confucius
- “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” – Confucius
- “Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.” – Confucius
- “If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.” – Confucius
confusing quotes that make you think
- “Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.” – Confucius
- “He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.” – Confucius
- “Study without reflection is a waste of time; reflection without study is dangerous.” – Confucius
- “The superior man is satisfied and composed; the mean man is always full of distress.” – 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
- “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” – Confucius
- “Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.” – Confucius
- “Sincerity is that whereby self-completion is effected, and its way is that by which man must direct himself.” – Confucius
- “You can successfully force people to follow a certain course, but you cannot force them to understand it.” – Confucius
- “Learn as though you would never be able to master it; hold it as though you would be in fear of losing it.” – Confucius
- “When wealth is centralized, the people are dispersed. When wealth is distributed, the people are brought together.” – Confucius
- “Learn avidly. Question it repeatedly. Analyze it carefully. Then put what you have learned into practice intelligently.” – 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
- “The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability that he has.” – Confucius
Confucius Quotes About Love And Life
- “Your life is what your thoughts make it.” – Confucius
- “To love a thing means wanting it to live.” – Confucius
- “Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.” – Confucius
- “The journey with a 1000 miles begins with one step.” – Confucius
Top confucius quotes
- “I’d rather die for speaking out, than to live and be silent.” – Confucius
- “I slept and dreamt life is beauty, I woke and found life is duty.” – Confucius
- “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
confucius famous quotes
- “Can there be a love which does not make demands on its object?” – Confucius
- “It is man that makes truth great, not truth that makes man great.” – Confucius
- “Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon or star.” – Confucius
- “True goodness springs from a man’s own heart. All men are born good.” – Confucius
- “I want you to be everything that’s you, deep at the center of your being.” – Confucius
- “Love is like a spice. It can sweeten your life – however, it can spoil it, too.” – Confucius
- “Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.” – Confucius
- “Be strict with yourself but least reproachful of others and complaint is kept afar.” – Confucius
- “If a man in the morning hear the right way, he may die in the evening without regret.” – Confucius
- “Those who cannot forgive others break the bridge over which they themselves must pass.” – Confucius
- “The true gentleman does not preach what he practices till he has practiced what he preaches.” – Confucius
- “The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest; success only comes later.” – Confucius
- “How transcendent is the virtue of the middle conduct! Rare for a long time has been its practice among the people.” – Confucius
- “If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?” – Confucius
- “The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.” – Confucius
- “Base yourself in loyalty and trust. Don’t be a companion with those who are not your moral equal. When you make a mistake, don’t hesitate to correct it.” – Confucius
- “When we see persons of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see persons of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.” – Confucius
- “If the gentleman is not serious, he will not be respected, and his learning will not be on a firm foundation. He considers loyalty and faithfulness to be fundamental, has no friends who are not like him, and when he has made mistakes, he is not afraid of correcting them.” – Confucius
Best Confucius Sayings To Guide You In Life
- “Words are the voice of the heart.” – Confucius
- “Respect yourself and others will respect you.” – Confucius
- “To see the right and not to do it is cowardice.” – Confucius
- “Think of tomorrow, the past can’t be mended.” – Confucius
- “Act with kindness but do not expect gratitude.” – Confucius
- “All people are the same; only their habits differ.” – Confucius
- “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” – Confucius
- “Good people strengthen themselves ceaselessly.” – Confucius
- “Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.” – Confucius
- “An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.” – Confucius
- “Those who know the truth are not equal to those who love it.” – Confucius
- “Worry not that no one knows you; seek to be worth knowing.” – Confucius
- “Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.” – Confucius
- “It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.” – Confucius
- “Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs.” – Confucius
- “We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.” – Confucius
- “The man who says he can and the man who says he can not… are both correct.” – Confucius
- “The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.” – Confucius
- “Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue.” – Confucius
- “The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.” – Confucius
- “He who acts with a constant view to his own advantage will be much murmured against.” – Confucius
- “There is nothing more visible than what is secret, and nothing more manifest than what is minute.” – Confucius
- “Virtuous people often revenge themselves for the constraints to which they submit by the boredom which they inspire.” – Confucius
- “I have not seen a person who loved virtue, or one who hated what was not virtuous. He who loved virtue would esteem nothing above it.” – Confucius
- “The superior man does not, even for the space of a single meal, act contrary to virtue. In moments of haste, he cleaves to it. In seasons of danger, he cleaves to it.” – Confucius
Is Confucianism a Religion?
Confucianism is often characterized as a system of social and ethical philosophy rather than a religion.
Confucianism built on an ancient religious foundation to establish the social values, institutions, and transcendent ideals of traditional Chinese society.
Confucius is now known by his family name Kong plus the title “Zi,” or “Fu Zi,” a term of veneration and respect with the meaning of “teacher.” In modern Chinese, he is known as “Kong Zi” or “Master Kong.”
The teachings of Confucius are known to us primarily through a text that has come to be known in English as The Analects – a collection of his sayings compiled by his followers.
More Inspirational Words Of Wisdom
Most Famous Quotes Of All Time
If you like these quotes about recharging yourself, also read our enjoy your day quotes to deal with all the anxiety and stress you are going through.
Feel free to share these uplifting quotes with friends and family on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Tumblr, Pinterest, and more to spread some wise words of wisdom to inspire you.
