Confucius (551–479 BCE) was the Chinese teacher, philosopher, and political theorist considered one of the most influential minds in Chinese history. He was not a religious leader; a follower once declared, “The Master never talked about spiritual beings, disorder, extraordinary things, or feats of strength.”
Born during the reign of the Zhou dynasty, near today’s Qufu in Shandong Province, Confucius’s original name was Kong Qiu. Later he was elevated to Kongfuzi, (meaning “Master Kong” in recognition of his works,) which has come down to us as the Latinized Confucius.
Confucius was sent out to labor at age three to provide for his family after his father’s death. He took minor government jobs when he was a teenager, but also made an effort to search for erudite masters to educate him in the six arts: ritual, music, archery, chariot driving, calligraphy, and arithmetic. He then began to turn his thoughts to questions of morality and ethics.
Confucius’s primary ambition in life was to be a government administrator and put his philosophical ideas into action. But he become disenchanted with the actions of the rulers he served. He did not approve of what he observed as the moral degeneration of China after years of political conflict. He then became an itinerant teacher.
Much of Confucius’s work has survived as the Analects. His collection of sayings and ideas has survived through the Chinese oral tradition. His writings were first translated into English by the Scottish sinologist James Legge in 1867. A more understandable translation was published by Oxford University in 1907.
After Confucius’s death, Confucianism shaped the foundation for China’s state ideology and world philosophy. Confucius has dominated the thought and traditions of the Chinese for centuries.
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Reviewing what you have learned and learning anew, you are fit to be a teacher.
—Confucius
Topics: Knowledge, Learning
Instead of being concerned that you have no office, be concerned to think how you may fit yourself for office. Instead of being concerned that you are not known, see to the worthy of being known.
—Confucius
Topics: Achievements
Men’s natures are alike, it is their habits that carry them far apart.
—Confucius
Mankind differs from the animals only by a little and most people throw that away.
—Confucius
Topics: Animals
The superior man does not set his mind either for anything, or against anything; what is right he will follow.
—Confucius
Topics: Truth
A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.
—Confucius
Topics: Planning
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.
—Confucius
Topics: Generosity, Habits, Virtue, Virtues, Kindness, Kindness, Virtue
To know what we know what we know, and that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge.
—Confucius
Topics: Knowledge
Person who chases two rabbits catches neither.
—Confucius
Men’s natures are alike; it is their habits that separate them.
—Confucius
To be wronged or robbed is nothing unless you continue to remember it.
—Confucius
Topics: Forgetting, Forgiving, Blame, Forgiveness, Anger, Mistakes, Attitude
Study the past, if you would define the future.
—Confucius
Topics: Studying, Past, How to Live, The Past, Future, Time
When things are investigated, then true knowledge is achieved; when true knowledge is achieved, then the will becomes sincere; when the will is sincere, then the heart is set right ; when the heart is set right, then the personal life is cultivated; when the personal life is cultivated, then the family life is regulated; when the family life is regulated, then the national life is orderly; and when the national life is orderly, then there is peace in this world.
—Confucius
To know is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge.
—Confucius
Topics: Knowledge, Meaning
The wheel of fortune turns round incessantly, and who can say to himself, “I shall to-day be uppermost.”
—Confucius
Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
—Confucius
Topics: Jobs, Love, Society, Work
Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.
—Confucius
Topics: Being Yourself, Heart, God, One liners
For one word a man is deemed wise and for one word he is deemed foolish. We should be careful indeed what we say.
—Confucius
Topics: Foolishness, Wisdom
He who conquers others is strong;
—Confucius
Topics: Self-Control, Control
No matter where you go — there you are
—Confucius
When you see a worthy person, endeavor to emulate him. When you see an unworthy person, then examine your inner self.
—Confucius
Topics: Service
You can cheat an honest man but you can not make a fool out of him.
—Confucius
Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.
—Confucius
Topics: Wisdom, Compassion, Character
When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points.
—Confucius
A man who has committed a mistake and doesn’t correct it is committing another mistake.
—Confucius
Topics: Flaws, Failure, Mistakes, Failures
We take greater pains to persuade others that we are happy than in endeavoring to think so ourselves.
—Confucius
The virtuous man is driven by responsibility; the non-virtuous man is driven by profit.
—Confucius
Topics: Virtue
The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.
—Confucius
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