Confucius quotes and sayings on life, success and failure, friendship, education, and other everyday life topics.
Confucius (551 B.C. – 479 B.C.) was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher whose teachings and philosophy have deeply influenced Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese thought and life.
The sayings and quotes of Confucius are very popular. They are known for their wisdom and the knowledge they impart.
Confucius said:
“Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.”
Here is what Confucius said about studying:
“Study the past if you would define the future.”
A famous Confucious quote about persistence and success is: “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
Confucius Quotes and Sayings
Here is our collection of Confucius sayings and quotes. Read them, think about them, and implement their wisdom in your life.
“He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.”
“Ask yourself constantly; what is the right thing to do?”
“To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.”
“Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.”
“You judge yourself by what you think you can achieve; others judge you by what you have achieved.”
“To know and not do is to not yet know.”
“To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness.”
“It is not possible for one to teach others who cannot teach his own family.”
Confucius Quotes and Sayings on Life and Loving Yourself
“Respect yourself, and others will respect you.”
“When anger rises, think of the consequences.”
“It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.”
“We take greater pains to persuade others we are happy than in trying to think so ourselves.”
“Humility is the solid foundation of all the virtues.”
“”When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”
“The more man meditates upon good thoughts the better will be his world and the world at large.”
“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
“A great man is hard on himself; a small man is hard on others.”
“To put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.”
“The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterward speaks according to his actions.”
“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”
“Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.”
“Silence is the true friend that 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 perfecting of one’s self is the fundamental base of all progress and all moral development.”
“Your life is what your thoughts make it.”
Confucius Quotes on Success and Failure
A selection of Confucius famous quotes that speak about success and failure.
“To see what is right, and not to do it, is want of courage, or of principle.
“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
“Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation, there is sure to be failure.”
“When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”
“To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.”
“Of course, you want to be rich and famous. It’s natural. Wealth and fame are what every man desires. The question is, what are you willing to trade for it?”
“The archer who misses his mark does not blame the target. He stops, corrects himself, and shoots again.”
“When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself.”
“He, who learns but does not think, is lost. He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.”
“The will to win, the desire to succeed, and the urge to reach your full potential, these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.”
Confucius Quotes and Advice
More of the sayings of Confucius that include advice and guidance about life.
“The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”
“It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.”
“Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it.”
“He who cannot describe the problem will never find the solution to that problem.”
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
“A man who does not think and plans ahead, will find trouble right at his door.”
“If you try to do too much, you will not achieve anything.”
“The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.”
“Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.”
“Do not worry about holding high position; worry rather about playing your proper role.”
Confucius Sayings and Quotes on Living a Better Life
Quotes from confusions to help people live better.
“To see what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice.”
“Don’t curse the darkness, light a candle.”
“The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life”
“The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trial.”
“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.”
Confucius Sayings on Friendship and Good Relationships
“Behave toward everyone as if receiving a great guest.”
“Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.”
“Don’t complain about the snow on your neighbor’s roof when your own doorstep is unclean.”
Confucius Quotes on Education
“Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.”
“If your plan is for one year, plant rice. If your plan is for 10 years, plant trees. When your plan is for 100 years, educate children.”
“You cannot open a book without learning something.”
“If one learns from others, but does not think, one will be bewildered. If, on the other hand, one thinks but does not learn from others, one will be in peril.”
“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”
“If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.”
Quotes Directory >> Confucius Quotes
