Confucius (551 BC-479 BC)

Quotes

• The scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.

• The man who in view of gain thinks of righteousness; who in the view of danger is prepared to give up his life; and who does not forget an old agreement however far back it extends - such a man may be reckoned a complete man.

• He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.

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

• Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.

• The determined scholar and the man of virtue will not seek to live at the expense of injuring their virtue. They will even sacrifice their lives to preserve their virtue complete.

• If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.

• What the superior man seeks is in himself. What the mean man seeks is in others.

• What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.

• When a man's knowledge is sufficient to attain, and his virtue is not sufficient to enable him to hold, whatever he may have gained, he will lose again.

• The superior man cannot be known in little matters, but he may be entrusted with great concerns. The small man may not be entrusted with great concerns, but he may be known in little matters.

• Virtue is more to man than either water or fire. I have seen men die from treading on water and fire, but I have never seen a man die from treading the course of virtue.

• By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.

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

• There are three things which the superior man guards against. In youth...lust. When he is strong...quarrelsomeness. When he is old...covetousness.

• Without an acquaintance with the rules of propriety, it is impossible for the character to be established.

• The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.

• If a man take no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand

• A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do you know that his future will not be equal to our present?

• Respect yourself and others will respect you.