Confucius was a Chinese philosopher, teacher, and politician who lived over 2,500 years ago.
His teachings and sayings, often referred to as “Analects,” have had a profound influence on Chinese culture and society.
Here are some characteristics of Confucius’ quotes on various topics:
- Life: Confucius believed that life was a precious gift, and that people should make the most of it by striving to be the best they can be. He emphasized the importance of self-improvement and self-cultivation, and believed that one should always strive to become a better person.
- Education: Confucius believed that education was essential for personal growth and societal progress. He believed that education should be accessible to all, regardless of social status or wealth, and that it should be focused on teaching people how to think critically and develop moral character.
- Friendship: Confucius believed that true friendship was based on mutual respect and trust. He emphasized the importance of treating others with kindness and compassion, and believed that strong friendships were built on a foundation of honesty, loyalty, and sincerity.
- Love: Confucius believed that love was an essential aspect of human life, and that it was the foundation of all healthy relationships. He emphasized the importance of showing love and respect to one’s family, friends, and community, and believed that true love was based on a deep understanding and appreciation of another person’s character and values.
- Ethics: Confucius was deeply committed to the principles of ethical behavior and believed that individuals had a moral obligation to uphold certain values, including honesty, loyalty, compassion, and respect. He believed that ethical behavior was the key to building strong and stable societies, and that individuals had a responsibility to contribute to the greater good of their communities.
- Leadership: Confucius believed that leadership was about setting a good example and leading by example. He emphasized the importance of moral character and ethical behavior in leaders, and believed that leaders had a responsibility to serve their communities and act in the best interests of their people.
Overall, Confucius’ teachings were focused on the importance of personal and social responsibility, ethical behavior, and self-cultivation.
His sayings continue to inspire and influence people around the world today.
Confucius Quotes
Confucius Quotes:
- “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
- “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
- “Study the past if you would define the future.”
- “It does not matter how tall you are, but how well you stand tall.”
- “Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.”
- “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”
- “Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
- “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
- “To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.”
- “Silence is a true friend who never betrays.”
- “Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.”
- “The cautious seldom err.”
- “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.”
- “It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.”
- “The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not is a fool for life.”
- “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
- “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”
- “Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.”
- “The noble-minded are calm and steady. Little people are forever fussing and fretting.”
- “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
- “When anger rises, think of the consequences.”
- “A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”
- “The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”
- “The superior man is satisfied and composed; the mean man is always full of distress.”
- “The cautious seldom err.”
- Without music, life would be a mistake.
- “Things that are done, it is needless to speak about…things that are past, it is needless to blame.”
- “Study the past if you would define the future.”
- “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.”
- “To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.”
- “To be wrong is nothing unless you remember it and do not correct it.”
- “The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not is a fool for life.”
- “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.”
- “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”
- “He who would rule must first learn to serve.”
- “Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.”
- “Silence is a true friend who never betrays.”
- “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.”
- “The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.”
- “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
Sayings About Life from Confucius and Others
Sayings About Life from Confucius and Others:
- “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” – Confucius
- “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu
- “In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.” – Robert Frost
- “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
- “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill
- “Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.” – Charles R. Swindoll
- “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” – Lao Tzu
- “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “Life is a mirror and will reflect back to the thinker what he thinks into it.” – Ernest Holmes
- “Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.” – Helen Keller
- “Life is like a camera. Focus on the good times, develop from the negatives, and if things don’t work out, take another shot.” – Unknown
- “The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.” – Oprah Winfrey
- “Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.” – Søren Kierkegaard
- “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain
- “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
- “The purpose of our lives is to be happy.” – Dalai Lama
- “The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.” – Carl Rogers
- “Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be.” – Grandma Moses
- “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” – Albert Einstein
- The more you know yourself, the more clarity there is. Self-knowledge has no end.” – Jiddu Krishnamurti
- “Life is a book and there are a thousand pages I have not yet read.” – Cassandra Clare
- “Life is not always a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well.” – Jack London
- “The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.” – W. M. Lewis
- “Life is a journey, not a destination.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” – Socrates
- “Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.” – John W. Gardner
- “Life is too important to be taken seriously.” – Oscar Wilde
- “Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can.” – Danny Kaye
- “Life is a grindstone. Whether it grinds us down or polishes us up depends on us.” – Thomas L. Holdcroft
- “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
- “Life is a challenge, meet it!” – Mother Teresa
- “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
- “Life is a great adventure or it is nothing.” – Helen Keller
- “The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.” – Walter Bagehot
- “Life is short, but there is always time for courtesy.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “Life is not a dress rehearsal. Stop practicing what you’re going to do and just go do it.” – Unknown
- “The purpose of life is not to arrive safely at the grave, but to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy shit…what a ride!'” – Unknown
- “The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The meaning of life is to give your gift away.” – David Viscott
- “Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, a comedy for the rich, a tragedy for the poor.” – Sholom Aleichem
- “Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once.” – Lillian Dickson
- “Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond to it.” – Lou Holtz
- “Life is a balance between holding on and letting go.” – Rumi
- “Life is a series of choices. Choose wisely.” – Unknown
- “Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.” – Tony Robbins
- “Life is a daring adventure or it is nothing at all.” – Helen Keller
- “Life is a journey, not a destination. Enjoy the journey!” – Unknown
- “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.” – Forrest Gump
- “Life is a song. Sing it loud and proud.” – Unknown
- “Life is a dance. Embrace every step.” – Unknown
- “Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it.” – Mother Teresa
Life Quotes from Confucius
Life Quotes from Confucius:
- “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
- “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
- “Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
- “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
- “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.”
- “Study the past if you would define the future.”
- “The cautious seldom err.”
- “The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not is a fool for life.”
- “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
- “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”
Famous Confucius Quotes
Famous Confucius Quotes:
- “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
- “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
- “Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.”
- “Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
- “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
- “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.”
- “Silence is a true friend who never betrays.”
- “It does not matter how tall you are, but how well you stand tall.”
- “Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation, there is sure to be failure.”
- “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
Confucius’s Quotes which are better known in youth to not to Regret in Old Age
Confucian Proverbs
Confucian Proverbs:
- “Study the past if you would define the future.”
- “It does not matter how many books you have, but how good they are.”
- “The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not is a fool for life.”
- “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.”
- “If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.”
- “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.”
- “The cautious seldom err.”
- “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”
- “Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.”
Best Confucius Quotes
Best Confucius Quotes:
- “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
- “Study the past if you would define the future.”
- “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
- “Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
- “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
- “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.”
- “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
- “Silence is a true friend who never betrays.”
- “Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation, there is sure to be failure.”
- “It does not matter how tall you are, but how well you stand tall.”
Confucius Quotes on Education
Confucius Quotes on Education:
- “Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.”
- “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
- “Study the past if you would define the future.”
- “Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.”
- “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.”
- “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”
- “It does not matter how talented you are, if you don’t work hard, you will not succeed.”
- “Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation, there is sure to be failure.”
- “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
- “Education is not filling a pail but lighting a fire.”
Confucius Quotes on Friendship
Confucius Quotes on Friendship:
- “Silence is a true friend who never betrays.”
- “A true friend is someone who has your back when you’re not around.”
- “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. Choose a friend you love, and you will never have to be alone a day in your life.”
- “To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue; gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.”
- “Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.”
- “The man of wisdom is never of two minds; the man of benevolence never worries; the man of courage is never afraid.”
- “Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies.”
- “Without music, life would be a mistake. Without friends, life would be unbearably dull.”
- “When anger rises, think of the consequences.”
- “A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”
Confucius Quotes on Love
Confucius Quotes on Love:
- “Love is not about possession, it’s all about appreciation.”
- “If you want one year of prosperity, grow grain. If you want ten years of prosperity, grow trees. If you want one hundred years of prosperity, grow people.”
- “It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.”
- “The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not is a fool for life.”
- “The wise find pleasure in water; the virtuous find pleasure in hills. The wise are active; the virtuous are tranquil. The wise are joyful; the virtuous are long-lived.”
- “Love is not just looking at each other, it’s looking in the same direction.”
- “To be wronged is nothing unless you remember it.”
- “Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
- “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.”
- “Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation, there is sure to be failure.”
Confucius Quotes on Family
Confucius Quotes on Family:
- “The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”
- “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”
- “Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.”
- “The cautious seldom err.”
- “Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.”
- “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”
- “To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.”
- “It does not matter how tall you are, but how well you stand tall.”
- “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
Inspirational & Motivational Confucius Quotes
Inspirational Confucius Quotes
- “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
- “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
- “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
- “Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.”
- “The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not is a fool for life.”
- “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.”
- “Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.”
- “It does not matter how tall you are, but how well you stand tall.”
- “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
- “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
- “Study the past if you would define the future.”
- “Silence is a true friend who never betrays.”
- “The man who chases two rabbits catches neither.”
- “The cautious seldom err.”
- “The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not is a fool for life.”
- “If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.”
- “The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”
- “To be wronged is nothing, unless you remember it.”
- “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”
- “Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
Motivational Confucius Quotes
- “It does not matter how hard the road is, as long as we keep walking.”
- “It does not matter how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get up.”
- “The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”
- “The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not is a fool for life.”
- “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.”
- “When anger rises, think of the consequences.”
- “To be wronged is nothing, unless you remember it.”
- “The cautious seldom err.”
- “Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.”
- “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.”
- “It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.”
- “To be wronged is nothing unless you remember it.”
- “The man who chases two rabbits catches neither.”
- “The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”
- “It does not matter how tall you are, but how well you stand tall.”
- “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
- “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”
- “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
- “Study the past if you would define the future.”
Positive Confucius Quotes
Positive Confucius Quotes:
- “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
- “Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.”
- “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.”
- “The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not is a fool for life.”
- “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
- “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
- “It does not matter how tall you are, but how well you stand tall.”
- “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
- “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”
- “The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”
- “The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not is a fool for life.”
- “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.”
- “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
- “It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.”
- “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
- “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
- “Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.”
- “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
- “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
- “It does not matter how tall you are, but how well you stand tall.”
- “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
- “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”
- “The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”
- “Silence is a true friend who never betrays.”
- “Study the past if you would define the future.”
- “Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.”
- “Without music, life would be a mistake.”
- “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
- “The will to do springs from the knowledge that we can do.”
- “A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”
- “Respect yourself and others will respect you.”
- “The cautious seldom err.”
- “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”
- “Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.”
- “To be wronged is nothing, unless you remember it.”
- “It does not matter how talented you are, if you do not have the right attitude, you will never achieve greatness.”
- “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.”
- “The will to succeed is important, but what’s more important is the will to prepare.”
- “The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not is a fool for life.”
- “He who would rule must first learn to serve.”
- “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.”
- “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
- “The essence of knowledge is, having it, to apply it; not having it, to confess your ignorance.”
- “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.”
- “Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.”
- “A man who has committed a mistake and doesn’t correct it, is committing another mistake.”
- “The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.”
- “Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.”
- “If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.”
And saving the best for last…
Funny Confucius Quotes
Funny Confucius Quotes (note: these are not real):
- “Man who stand on toilet is high on pot.”
- “Man who run behind car get exhausted.”
- “Man who sneezes without tissue takes matters into his own hands.”
- “Man who fall in vat of molten glass make spectacle of self.”
- “Man who walk through airport turnstile sideways going to Bangkok.”
- “Man who eat many prunes get good run for money.”
- “Man who eat photo of father, soon spitting-image of father.”
- “Man who fart in church sit in own pew.”
- “Man who drive like hell, bound to get there.”
- “Man who fight with wife all day get no piece at night.”
FAQs – Confucius Quotes
What are the most famous Confucius sayings?
Confucius was a Chinese philosopher, teacher, and politician who lived during the Spring and Autumn period in China (around 551–479 BC).
He is widely recognized as one of the most important figures in Chinese history and culture, and his teachings continue to influence people around the world today.
Some of his most famous sayings include:
- “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
- “Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.”
- “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
- “Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
- “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
- “It does not matter how tall you are, but how well you stand tall.”
- “Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.”
- “Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation, there is sure to be failure.”
- “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”
- “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.”
These are just a few examples of the many wise sayings attributed to Confucius. His teachings cover a wide range of topics, including ethics, politics, education, and personal development.
What is Confucianism?
Confucianism is a philosophical and ethical system that originated in China during the late Spring and Autumn period (771-476 BCE) and was later developed by Confucius (551-479 BCE) and his followers. The teachings of Confucius emphasize the importance of morality, family values, and social harmony.
Confucianism focuses on the development of moral character and the cultivation of virtues such as benevolence, righteousness, wisdom, and propriety. It also stresses the importance of filial piety, respect for elders, and the maintenance of social order.
Confucianism has had a profound influence on Chinese culture and society, as well as on East Asian countries such as Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.
Today, Confucianism is still widely practiced and has been adapted to fit modern times.
What does the quote “every man has two lives” mean and is it related to Confucius?
The quote “every man has two lives” suggests that there are two aspects to an individual’s existence: the first is the physical and temporal life that we experience, while the second refers to the spiritual and moral life that we develop through our actions and interactions with the world.
This quote is often attributed to Confucius, but there is no evidence that he actually said it.
However, the idea of a dual existence is a common theme in Confucian philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of cultivating inner virtues and striving for moral excellence in addition to fulfilling one’s worldly duties.
Confucius believed that by cultivating our inner selves, we can achieve a sense of harmony and balance that allows us to live a fulfilling and meaningful life.
Related
- Chinese Proverbs
- Sun Tzu Quotes from The Art of War
- Adversity Quotes
- Quotes on Life’s Struggles
- Inspirational and Motivational Quotes
- Positive Quotes
- Self-Confidence Quotes
- Caring Quotes
