Confucius

The Three Armies can be deprived of their commanding officer, but even a common man cannot be deprived of his purpose.

Only the wisest and the stupidest of men never change.

The Master said, If out of the three hundred songs I had to take one phrase to cover all my teachings, I would say ‘Let there be no evil in your thoughts.’

Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.

Those who do not study are only cattle dressed up in men's clothes.

There is one single thread binding my way together...the way of the Master consists in doing one's best...that is all.

The Master said, To men who have risen at all above the middling sort, one may talk of things higher yet. But to men who are at all below the middling sort it is useless to talk of things that are above them.

Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.

Tzu-kung asked, 'Is there a single word which can be a guide to conduct throughout one's life?' The Master said, 'It is perhaps the word 'shu.' Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.

I have never yet seen anyone whose desire to build up his moral power was as strong as sexual desire.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

The man of wisdom is never in two minds about right and wrong; the man of benevolence never worries about the future; the man of courage is never afraid.

The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability that he has.

Even when walking in the company of two other men, I am bound to be able to learn from them. The good points of the one I copy; the bad points of the other I correct in myself.

Good people strengthen themselves endlessly.

He who by reanimating the Old can gain knowledge of the New is fit to be a teacher.

The Master said, A gentleman takes as much trouble to discover what is right as lesser men take to discover what will pay.

I want you to be everything that’s you, deep at the center of your being.

Silence is the true friend that never betrays.

The Master said, Who expects to be able to go out of a house except by the door? How is it then that no one follows this Way of ours?

Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.

The Three Armies can be deprived of their commanding officer, but even a common man cannot be deprived of his purpose.

He who wishes to secure the good of others has already secured his own.

Life is really simple, but men insist on making it complicated.

The master said, Quietly to store up knowledge in my mind, to learn without flagging, to teach without growing weary, these present me with no difficulties.

As to be being a Divine Sage or even a Good Man, far be it from me to make any such claim. As for unwavering effort to learn and unflagging patience in teaching others, those are merits that I do not hesitate to claim.

As in the case of making a mound, if, before the very last basketful, I stop, then I shall have stopped. As in the case of leveling the ground, if, though tipping only one basketful, I am going forward, then I shall be making progress.

To know what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice.

You do not understand even life. How can you understand death?

Person who chases two rabbits catches neither.

When you meet someone better than yourself, turn your thoughts to becoming his equal. When you meet someone not as good as you are, look within and examine yourself.

To be wronged or robbed is nothing unless you continue to remember it.

Is goodness indeed so far away? If we really wanted Goodness, we should find that it was at our very side.

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.