Confucius
Confucius
Confucius was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history...
NationalityChinese
ProfessionPhilosopher
CountryChina
mistake giving doubt
Listen much, keep silent when in doubt, and always take heed of the tongue; thou wilt make few mistakes. See much, beware of pitfalls, and always give heed to thy walk; thou wilt have little to rue. If thy words are seldom wrong, thy deeds leave little to rue, pay will follow.
taoism needs tao
To find the Tao, there is nowhere you need to search. If it is not inside you, it is not the Tao.
men gentleman proud
The gentleman is calm and at ease. The gentleman is dignified but not proud; the small man is proud but not dignified.
men law land
While the gentleman cherishes benign rule, the small man cherishes his native land. While the gentleman cherishes a respect for the law, the small man cherishes generous treatment.
life understanding behaviour
We can know a person by observing his behaviour, understanding the reasons for his actions and ascertaining his intentions. If we do this, how can we not know him?
law punishment people
Guide the people by law, subdue them by punishment; they may shun crime, but will be void of shame. Guide them by example, subdue them by courtesy; they will learn shame, and come to be good.
love mother dream
I saw some piglets suckling their dead mother. After a short while they shuddered and went away. They had sensed that she could no longer see them and that she wasn't like them any more. What they loved in their mother wasn't her body, but whatever it was that made her body live.
future hands sorrow
Who heeds not the future will find sorrow at hand
anger men influence
If a man be under the influence of anger his conduct will not be correct.
birthday heart heaven
At fifteen, my mind was bent on learning. At thirty, I stood firm. At forty, I had no doubts. At fifty, I knew the decrees of Heaven. At sixty, my ear was receptive to truth. At seventy, I could follow my heart's desires without sin.
intelligent giving justice
Heaven gives long life to the just and the intelligent.
country war years
A country of a thousand war-chariots cannot be administered unless the ruler attends strictly to business, punctually observes his promises, is economical in expenditure, loves the people, and uses the labor of the peasantry only at the proper times of year.
practice long people
How transcendent is the virtue of the middle conduct! Rare for a long time has been its practice among the people.
home sacrifice people
Behave when away from home as though you were in the presence of an honored guest. Employ the people as though you were assisting at an important sacrifice. Do not do to others what you would not like yourself. Then there will be no feelings of opposition to you, whether it is the affairs of a state that you are handling or the affairs of a family.