120 Confucius Quotes On Ethics And Morality
Confucius was an immensely influential Chinese philosopher who shaped spiritual and moral doctrine across Asia for centuries. His insightful quotes on ethics, morality and proper conduct hold just as much wisdom today. This article examines 120 of Confucius’ most thought-provoking sayings on these important themes.
The quotes are grouped into different categories based on their subject matter or focus. Some explore virtues like humanity, righteousness and wisdom. Others offer guidance on relationships, society and leadership. Readers will find pithy observations on everything from honoring one’s parents to choosing good companions. Overall, the collection aims to give a broad overview of Confucius’ lifelong teachings on creating a just and harmonious world.
By reflecting on these ancient words, one gains a timeless perspective on moral issues that are still highly relevant today. Confucius encouraged cultivating oneself inwardly before trying to order external things. His insights on human nature, ethics and social responsibility provide enduring lessons for people seeking to better understand themselves and create a more peaceful community.
1. Moral wisdom from an ancient philosopher
“Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.” – Confucius
“When anger rises, think of the consequences.” – Confucius
“Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it.” – Confucius
“To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.” – Confucius
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” – Confucius
“Respect yourself and others will respect you.” – Confucius
“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
“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.” – Confucius
“The essence of knowledge is, having it, to apply it; not having it, to confess your ignorance.” – Confucius
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius
“He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.” – Confucius
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
“Silence is a true friend who never betrays.” – Confucius
“The superior man does what is proper to the station in which he is; he does not desire to go beyond this.” – Confucius
“The cautious seldom err.” – Confucius
“Study the past if you would define the future.” – Confucius
“If language is not correct, then what is said is not what is meant; if what is said is not what is meant, then what must be done remains undone; if this remains undone, morals and art will deteriorate; if justice goes astray, the people will stand about in helpless confusion. Hence there must be no arbitrariness in what is said. This matters above everything.” – Confucius
“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” – Confucius
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” – Confucius
2. Timeless lessons on virtue and character from Confucius
“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” – Confucius
“Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?” – Analects
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
“To see what is right, and not to do it, is want of courage or of principle.” – Analects
“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
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” – Confucius
“Silence is a true friend who never betrays.” – Confucius
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” – Confucius
“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” – Confucius
“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.” – Confucius
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius
“Study the past if you would define the future.” – Confucius
“He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.” – Confucius
“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.” – Confucius
“To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right.” – Confucius
“The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.” – Confucius
“Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.” – Confucius
“To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.” – Confucius
“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
“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” – Confucius
3. Insights on human relationships and society from the Analects
“To see what is right, and not to do it, is want of courage or of principle.” – Analects 2.24
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” – Confucius
“When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” – Confucius
“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.” – Analects 2.17
“What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.” – Analects 15:23
“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” – Confucius
“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
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
“Study the past if you would define the future.” – Confucius
“Invest in the human moment rather than property.” – Confucius
“Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.” – Analects 15:24
“Respect yourself and others will respect you.” – Confucius
“Silence is a true friend who never betrays.” – Confucius
“He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.” – Confucius
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” – Confucius
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” – Confucius
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
“To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.” – Analects
“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” – Confucius
4. Guidance on becoming ajunzi through righteous living
‘Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.’ – Confucius
‘To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.’ – Confucius
‘Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.’ – Confucius
‘Study the past if you would define the future’ – Confucius
‘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
‘Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.’ – Confucius
‘Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.’ – Confucius
‘It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.’ – Confucius
‘He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.’ – Confucius
‘I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.’ – Confucius
‘Respect yourself and others will respect you.’ – Confucius
‘Silence is a true friend who never betrays.’ – Confucius
‘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.’ – Confucius
‘To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.’ – Confucius
‘The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.’ – Confucius
‘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.’ – Confucius
‘Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.’ – Confucius
‘Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.’ – Confucius
‘Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?’ – Confucius
‘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
5. Teachings on cultivating benevolence, propriety and sincerity
“One who is not benevolent cannot long remain prosperous.” – Confucius
“The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.” – Confucian Analects
“Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.” – Confucius
“To be sincere yet seem insincere, to be sincere and skeptical is the Way of Confucius.” – Confucian Analects
“Respect yourself and others will respect you.” – Confucius
“Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue.” – Confucius
“The superior man thinks of virtue; the small man thinks of comfort.” – Confucius
“Master Kong said, ‘To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent sincerity and vigorous enthusiasm.” – Confucian Analects
” I know not how men could live without the amenities, and yet I can get on well enough without them.” – Confucian Analects
“If a man keeps cherishing his old knowledge, so as continually to be acquiring new, he may be a teacher of others.” – Confucius
“To be patient is to be victorious.” – Confucian Analects
“When anger rises, think of the consequences.” – Confucian Analects
“One who would take upon himself the business of a ruler must renounce his private wishes.” – Confucius
“Let the states of equilibrium and harmony exist in perfection, and a happy order will prevail throughout heaven and earth, and all things will be nourished and flourish.” – Confucius
“Riches and honor acquired by unrighteousness are to me as a floating cloud.” – Confucius
“If some years were added to my life, I would give fifty to the study of the Yi, and then I might come to be without great faults.” – Confucian Analects
“With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow – I have still joy in the midst of these things. Riches and honors acquired by unrighteousness are to me as a floating cloud.” – Confucius
“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
“Respect yourself and others will respect you. ” – Confucius
“At fifteen, I longed for wisdom. At thirty, I saw what was right. At forty, I had no more doubts. At fifty, I knew the decrees of Heaven. At sixty, my ear was attentive to the truth. At seventy, I followed my heart’s desire without transgressing what was right.” – Confucius
6. Quotes promoting compassion and goodwill from Confucius
The gentleman understands what is moral. The small man understands what is profitable. – Confucius
To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue … These five things are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness. – Confucius
Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire. – Confucius
To govern means to rectify. If you lead people wrongly, how can you rectify yourself? – Confucius
He who will not economize will have to agonize. – Confucius
Treat with propriety those who areRemoved and keep at a distance those who are near; thus you will make those who are far your equals, and prevent injury to those who are near. – Confucius
The faults of a superior person are like the sun and moon. They have their faults, and everyone sees them; they change and everyone looks up to them. – Confucius
If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand. – Confucius
When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps. – Confucius
Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve. – Confucius
To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage or of principle. – Confucius
If language is not correct, then what is said is not what is meant; if what is said is not what is meant, then what must be done remains undone; if this remains undone, morals and art will deteriorate; if justice goes astray, the people will stand about in helpless confusion. Hence there must be no arbitrariness in what is said. – Confucius
What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others. – Confucius
It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. – Confucius
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
The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life. – Confucius
Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men. – Confucius
The superior man thinks of virtue; the small man thinks of comfort. – Confucius
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it. – Confucius
Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure. – Confucius
Conclusion
In summary, the over 100 quotes from Confucius provide profound wisdom and guidance on ethical living that remain highly relevant today. They teach us to cultivate virtue, strengthen relationships through kindness and respect, pursue knowledge and self-improvement, and bring order to ourselves and society. Reflecting on these timeless words can help each of us become better people – by encouraging compassion over conflict, taking responsibility for our actions, and fulfilling our duties to others. I hope readers will take the opportunity to internalize some of these insightful teachings and apply them to their daily lives.
