Confucius

Chinese philosopher, founder of Confucianism

Ancient influential 143 sayings

Sayings by Confucius

The Master said, 'The wise man delights in water, the benevolent man delights in mountains. The wise man is active; the benevolent man is tranquil. The wise man is joyful; the benevolent man is long-lived.'

c. 5th century BCE — Analects, Book VI, Chapter 23
Humorous Unverifiable

The Master said, 'I have not seen one who loves virtue as he loves sexual beauty.'

c. 5th century BCE — Analects, Book IX, Chapter 17
Humorous Unverifiable

The Master said, 'The superior man is dignified, but not proud. The mean man is proud, but not dignified.'

c. 5th century BCE — Analects, Book XIII, Chapter 26
Humorous Confirmed

The Master said, 'The student of virtue has no anxieties; the man of wisdom has no perplexities; the man of courage has no fears.'

c. 5th century BCE — Analects, Book IX, Chapter 28
Humorous Unverifiable

The Master said, 'He who offends against Heaven has none to whom he can pray.'

c. 5th century BCE — Analects, Book III, Chapter 13
Humorous Unverifiable

The Master said, 'The superior man is anxious lest he should not get the truth; he is not anxious lest poverty should come upon him.'

c. 5th century BCE — Analects, Book XV, Chapter 31
Humorous Unverifiable

The Master said, 'A man may be able to recite the three hundred odes, but if, when entrusted with a governmental charge, he knows not how to act, or if, when sent to any quarter on a mission, he cannot give his replies without being prompted, notwithstanding the extent of his learning, of what practical use is it?'

c. 5th century BCE — Analects, Book XIII, Chapter 5
Humorous Unverifiable

The Master said, 'What I want to avoid is fixed ideas, obstinacy, narrow-mindedness, and egoism.'

c. 5th century BCE — Analects, Book IX, Chapter 4
Humorous Unverifiable

The Master said, 'The superior man is firm in the right way, and not merely firm.'

c. 5th century BCE — Analects, Book XV, Chapter 2
Humorous Confirmed

The Master said, 'The superior man is not an implement.'

c. 5th century BCE — Analects, Book II, Chapter 12
Humorous Unverifiable

The Master said, 'He who acts with a constant view to his own advantage will be much murmured against.'

c. 5th century BCE — Analects, Book IV, Chapter 12
Humorous Unverifiable

The Master said, 'To see what is right, and not to do it, is want of courage.'

c. 5th century BCE — Analects, Book II, Chapter 24
Humorous Confirmed

The Master said, 'The superior man is universally benevolent, and not partisan. The mean man is partisan, and not universally benevolent.'

c. 5th century BCE — Analects, Book XV, Chapter 21
Humorous Unverifiable

The Master said, 'A man can enlarge the Way, but the Way cannot enlarge a man.'

c. 5th century BCE — Analects, Book XV, Chapter 28
Humorous Unverifiable

The Master said, 'What is the highest wisdom? To know men.'

c. 5th century BCE — Analects, Book XII, Chapter 22
Humorous Unverifiable

The Master said, 'When I walk along with two others, they may serve me as my teachers. I will select their good qualities and follow them, their bad qualities and avoid them.'

c. 5th century BCE — Analects, Book VII, Chapter 21
Humorous Unverifiable

Study the past if you would define the future.

c. 551-479 BCE — From the Analects
Philosophical Unverifiable

Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.

c. 551-479 BCE — From a teaching on the consequences of revenge
Philosophical Unverifiable

To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it.

c. 551-479 BCE — From a teaching on forgiveness and letting go
Philosophical Unverifiable

The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.

c. 551-479 BCE — From a teaching on the importance of inquiry
Philosophical Unverifiable