Confucius

Faithfulness and sincerity are the highest things.

The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.

Only the wisest and the stupidest of men never change.

Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honors depend upon heaven.

And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

Straightforwardness without the rules of propriety becomes rudeness.

Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.

Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?

How to play music may be known. At the commencement of the piece, all the parts should sound together. As it proceeds, they should be in harmony while severally distinct and flowing without break, and thus on to the conclusion.

In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.

Three things cannot long be hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.

Every truth has four corners: as a teacher I give you one corner, and it is for you to find the other three.

Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.

The will to win the desire to succeed the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.

When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself.

If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.

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

A ruthless man extends his ruthlessness from those he does not love to those he loves.

Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon or star.

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.

Exemplary persons are steadfast in the face of adversity, while petty persons are engulfed by it.

Do not do unto others what you would not want others to do unto you.

An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.

Never seek illicit wealth.

Every house guest brings you happiness. Some when they arrive and some when they are leaving.

Choose a job that you like, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

Ceremonies are the first thing to be attended to in the practice of government.

Don’t curse the darkness, light a candle.

A superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions.

Dont complain about the snow on your neighbors roof when your own doorstep is unclean.

Three things cannot long be hidden the sun the moon and the truth.

If you would one day renovate yourself, do so from day to day.

A scholar who loves comfort is not fit to be called a scholar.

He who acts with a constant view to his own advantage will be much murmured against.

When you see a good person, think of becoming like him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points.

They must often change who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.

When you know a thing, to hold that you know it, and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it - this is knowledge.

The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.

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

A man who reviews the old so as to find out the new is qualified to teach others.

Act with kindness but do not expect gratitude.

Keep it simple and focus on what matters. Don't let yourself be overwhelmed.

The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.

It cannot be when the root is neglected that what springs from it will be well ordered.

Character is the backbone of our human culture. Music is the flowering of character.

Act with kindness, but do not expect gratitude.

When anger rises, think of the consequences.

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

A man who lacks reliability is utterly useless.

Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.

To those whose talents are above mediocrity, the highest subjects may be announced. To those who are below mediocrity, the highest subjects may not be announced.

Learning without thought is labor lost. Thought without learning is intellectual death.

To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness.

A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.

The superior man, extensively studying all learning, and keeping himself under the restraint of the rules of propriety, may thus likewise not overstep what is right.

Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in getting up every time we do.

A man without persistence will never make a good shaman or a good physician.

It is better to play than do nothing.

Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak not what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety.

Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it.

I will not be concerned at other men's not knowing me;I will be concerned at my own want of ability.

Old age, believe me, is a good and pleasant thing. It is true you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator.

I was complaining that I had no shoes till I met a man who had no feet.

The more man meditates upon good thoughts the better will be his world and the world at large.

The tongue must be heavy indeed, because so few people can hold it.

A gentleman considers what is right; the vulgar consider what will pay.

If you chase two rabbits, you catch none.

The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.

Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of man.

A man without a mustache is a man without a soul.

He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.

Roads were made for journeys not destinations.

Ability will never catch up with the demand for it.

Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.

The book salesman should be honored because he brings to our attention, as a rule, the very books we need most and neglect most.

The superior man thinks always of virtue the common man thinks of comfort.

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

Slander soaks into the mind as water into low and marshy places, where it becomes stagnant and offensive.

The way of the superior person is threefold virtuous they are free from anxieties wise they are free from perplexities and bold they are free from fear.

What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.

These are the four abuses: desire to succeed in order to make oneself famous; taking credit for the labors of others; refusal to correct one's errors despite advice; refusal to change one's ideas despite warnings.

He who chases two rabbits catches none.

Have no friends not equal to yourself.

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.

Our headstrong passions shut the door of our souls against God.

A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do you know that his future will not be equal to our present?

Look at the means which a man employs, consider his motives, observe his pleasures. A man simply cannot conceal himself!

The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.

Speak the truth, do not yield to anger; give, if thou art asked for little; by these three steps thou wilt go near the gods.

We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression.

The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.

The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.

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

I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand.

The superior man, while his parents are alive, reverently nourishes them; and, when they are dead, reverently sacrifices to them. His thought to the end of his life is how not to disgrace them.

Expect much from yourself and little from others and you will avoid incurring resentments.

I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge; I am one who is fond of antiquity, and earnest in seeking it there.

Heaven means to be one with God.

The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.

Our greatest glory is not in never failing but in rising every time we fail.