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The 68 best famous quotes of Confucius

The 68 best famous quotes of Confucius

March 29, 2024

Kung Fu Tzu (551 - 479 a.C.) or "Confucius" was the most influential philosopher-political thinker in China during the Asian feudal era. Son of a declining noble family, he struggled to find a place in the ruling class of his time in the kingdom of Lu, China.

Known as Confucius in the West, this oriental thinker formulated what would be known as Confucianism , an idea that preached for good government. Its bases resided in tolerance, respect, altruism and ethics.

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The most revealing phrases of the Chinese thinker

In this article we offer you the most outstanding reflections and phrases of the author Confucius.


1. Learning without thinking is wasting energy

Reflection is part of the experience we acquired.

2. We have to be at peace with ourselves, otherwise we can not guide others in the search for peace

Before educating others, we must educate ourselves.

3. Only the most excellent sages, and the most finished fools, are incomprehensible

Curious duality posed by Confucius.

4. A man without virtue can not dwell long in adversity, nor in happiness

Excellent thought for a deep reflection.

5. A general can be removed from his army, but not a man his will

The will is more powerful than an army of men without it.


6. It is possible to get something after three hours of fighting, but surely it can be achieved with just three words impregnated with affection

The word must prevail over violence.

7. What you do not want others to do to you, do not do to others

One has to be consistent with what he does, and coherent at the same time.

8. Learning without thinking is useless. Think without learning, dangerous

Everything is related between learning and thinking. We have to complement them.

9. A man of virtuous words is not always a virtuous man

We are what we do, not what we say we will do.

10. Ignorance is the night of the mind: but a night without moon and without stars

It is very dangerous to remain ignorant.

11. The virtuous man rests in virtue, and the wise man ambitions

Virtue seems to be a key issue for Confucius.


12. A gentleman should be ashamed if his words are better than his actions

Once again, one has to act according to what he says.

13. Hearing or reading without thinking is a useless occupation

Do not swallow things, you have to chew them.

14. Entristécete because you do not know men

We have to empathize in life, only in this way is harmony achieved.

15. The defects of a man always fit his type of mind

We are all limited by our thoughts.

16. He who rules by his moral excellence can be compared to the polar star

To confucius, the government has to be something ethical and good to do.

17. Never make bets. If you know you have to win, you are a rogue; and if you do not know, you're stupid

Curious phrase about the game.

18. Before starting a journey of revenge, dig two tombs

Revenge is treacherous, not beneficial.

19. Observe their shortcomings and know their virtues

All people are composed of both concepts.

20. Before the polar star, all the other stars bow before it

Before the good governor, as he refers, everyone follows him if he is virtuous.

21. I do not try to know the questions; I try to know the answers

Asking is easy, solving them is complicated.

22. Artificial language and flattering behavior rarely accompany virtue

There is nothing emptier than superficial chatter.

23. The only ones who do not change are the wise of the first order and the completely idiots

Extremes always tend to be rigid.

24. Expect yourself a lot and expect little from others

Waiting for others to behave like us is wasting time.

25. If you already know what you have to do and you do not do it then you are worse off than before

You have to act if you know what you want. If not, you will not find the way.

26. Know that you know what you know and that you do not know what you do not know; here is the true knowledge

Having clear objectives is paramount in this life.

27. Men are less distinguished by their natural qualities than by the culture they themselves provide

Man was born wanting to know.

28. Education makes us different and we stay away

Socialization lacks collective comrpomiso, and often classifies people as different from one another.

29. The evil is not in having faults, but in not trying to amend them

To be wrong is human, to rectify the wise.

30. The noble man has a broad mind and without prejudices

The ethical conscience was an important issue for Confucius.

31. One who does not know how to govern himself, how will he know how to govern others?

We always have to control our destiny and thoughts if we want to lead the masses.

32. The true gentleman is the one who only preaches what he practices

Once again, Confucius resorts to the coherence between action and saying.

33. You should not complain about the snow on your neighbor's roof when it also covers the threshold of your house

Before complaining about others, we have to clean up what is ours.

34. The lower man is prejudiced and lacks a broad mind

There are always exploiters and exploited.

35. What the wise want, he seeks in himself; the vulgar, look for it in others

It is the difference between successful people and failed ones.

36. Wisdom worries about being slow in his speeches and diligent in his actions

Soft words, strong actions.

37. Caution is rarely wrong

Caution is a privilege for people.

38. Learn to live and you will know how to die well

There is no need to fear death if you love life.

39. However far the spirit goes, it will never go further than the heart

Passion makes us reach unsuspected levels.

40. Silence is the only friend who never betrays

It is better to be quiet and work like an ant.

41. They told me and I forgot it; I saw and understood; I did it and I learned it

We have to learn to listen to others.

42. It is easier to seize the commander-in-chief of an army than to deprive a miser of his freedom

Freedom is what sustains the existence of people.

43. Who, returning to the old way, learns the new one, can be considered a teacher

Interesting thought for meditation.

44. Do not pretend to extinguish a fire with fire, or to remedy a flood with water

You have to know how to find the right solutions for each problem.

45. The man who has made a mistake and does not correct it commits another major error

It is not wrong to be wrong. The bad thing is to do it again.

46. ​​Study the past if you want to forecast the future

From the past you learn to form a better future.

47. Some money avoids worries; a lot, it attracts them

Money has always been a complexity in the human being.

48. A strong voice can not compete with a clear voice, although this is a simple whisper

Not by raising our voices we have more reason.

49. Arrange for the state as it leads the family, with authority, competence and good example

For some, the government is the reflection of the people and the family.

50. If you do not know life yet, how can it be possible to know death?

The death is part of life.

51. When you see a man devoid of virtue, examine yourselves

We always see our own shortcomings in others.

52. Human nature is good and evil is essentially unnatural

Are we good people by nature?

53. If you do not respect the sacred, you have nothing to fix the behavior

The customs and traditions were essential for Confucius.

54. The superior man always thinks of virtue; the vulgar man thinks of comfort

The comfort zone is reserved for the complacent.

56. When you see a wise man, think about matching his virtues

We must copy the other virtuosos, take an example of the good ones.

57. Work on preventing crimes so as not to need punishments

Society needs education for good behavior. This avoids violence.

57. The elevated man is the one who works before speaking, and practices what he professes

We have to act what we preach.

58. The wise man knows that he ignores

The wise man knows everything.

59. It is not weeds that choke the good seed, but the negligence of the peasant

It is up to each one to solve the problems.

60. The superior man is persistent on the true path

The superior man as the good, the ethical and kind.

61. Only the virtuous is competent to love men

We have to know how to love others in order to be an example to society. Loving oneself is easy.

62. The one who knows the truth is not equal to the one who loves her

Many know the truth but do not want to discover it.

63. Virtue does not dwell in solitude: it must have neighbors

The human being is sociable and was born to understand each other.

64. Better than the man who knows what is right is the man who loves what is just

To be moral in this life, we have to have justice present.

65. A scholar who is not serious will not inspire respect

The intellect and science require seriousness.

66. Whoever governs a town by giving a good example looks like a polar star

Confucius made this simile for the good ruler.

67. Knowing how to govern is rectifying

Governing is not only the art of knowing how to command.

68. There is nothing colder than a council whose application is impossible

You have to be realistic and not just an utopian.

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