Confucius (551 BC-479 BC)

Confucius, born Kong Qiu (孔丘), was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Much of the shared cultural heritage of the Sinosphere originates in the philosophy and teachings of Confucius. His philosophical teachings, called Confucianism, emphasized personal and governmental morality, harmonious social relationships, righteousness, kindness, sincerity, and a ruler's responsibilities to lead by virtue.

Quotes

When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.
He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.
[The superior man] acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his actions.
Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.

Learning
When you know a thing, to hold that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it - this is knowledge.

Knowledge
Things that are done, it is needless to speak about...things that are past, it is needless to blame.
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.
The superior man...does not set his mind either for anything, or against anything; what is right he will follow.
When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.
The cautious seldom err.
Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.

Neighbors
The man of virtue makes the difficulty to be overcome his first business, and success only a subsequent consideration.

Success
With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow - I have still joy in the midst of these things. Riches and honors acquired by unrighteousness are to me as a floating cloud.

Happiness
I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge; I am one who is fond of antiquity, and earnest in seeking it there.

Knowledge
Is virtue a thing remote? I wish to be virtuous, and lo! Virtue is at hand.
The superior man is satisfied and composed; the mean man is always full of distress.
The people may be made to follow a path of action, but they may not be made to understand it.

Understanding
To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.
He with whom neither slander that gradually soaks into the mind, nor statements that startle like a wound in the flesh, are successful may be called intelligent indeed.
The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.

Humility

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