Kong Fuzi, more famous in the West as Confucious, is arguably the best-known and most influential Chinese philosopher of all time. Despite living two and a half millennia ago, his writings could easily serve as an inspiration and a guide to modern-day people.
Confucius’s teachings formed the foundation of Confucianism, a system of thought focused on morality, social relationships, justice, and sincerity. Confucius held various government positions in the state of Lu but became disillusioned with the political corruption and left to travel.
Here are 25 Inspiring Confucius Quotes
- “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
- “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”
- “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
- “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
- “When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.”
- “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
- “A superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions.”
- “Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.”
- “The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.”
- “The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.”
- “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
- “Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star.”
- “It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve, and bad things are very easy to get.”
- “They must often change who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.”
- “What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.”
- “In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.”
- “Respect yourself, and others will respect you.”
- “Silence is a true friend who never betrays.”
- Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.”
- “To be able under all circumstances to practice five things constitutes perfect virtue; these five things are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.”
- “To see what is right, and not to do it, is want of courage or of principle.”
- “Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue.”
- “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.”
- “Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.”
- “Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.”
Confucius’ quotes challenge us to become better versions of ourselves. They emphasize the importance of self-cultivation, lifelong learning, and taking responsibility for our actions. By reflecting on these quotes, we gain a deeper understanding of a rich cultural tradition and its lasting impact on the world.
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