Confucius (551 BC-479 BC)

Quotes

• Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star.

• Study the past if you would define the future.

• Men's natures are alike, it is their habits that carry them far apart.

• What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.

• Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it.

• They must often change who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.

• By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.

• A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

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

• Ability will never catch up with the demand for it.

• An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.

• Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.

• Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

• Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honors depend upon heaven.

• He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.

• To know what is right and not to do it is the worst cowardice.

• I do not want a friend who smiles when I smile, who weeps when I weep, for my shadow in the pool can do better than that.

• Learning without thought is labor lost.

• To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.

• Choose a job you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life.