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Analects quotes

Confucius

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“Learning without thought is labour lost; thought without learning is perilous.” Confucius, “Analects”

“He acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his actions.” Confucius, “Analects”

“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.” Confucius, “Analects”

“The superior man thinks of virtue; the small man thinks of comfort.” Confucius, “Analects”

“While you do not know life, how can you know about death?” Confucius, “Analects”

“The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.” Confucius, “Analects”

“Let your evinced desires be for what is good, and the people will be good.” Confucius, “Analects”

“To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.” Confucius, “Analects”

“He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.” Confucius, “Analects”

“The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.” Confucius, “Analects”

“Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.” Confucius, “Analects”

“What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.” Confucius, “Analects”

“Have no friends not equal to yourself.” Confucius, “Analects”

“They who know the truth are not equal to those who love it, and they who love it are not equal to those who delight in it.” Confucius, “Analects”

“If names be not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth of things. If language be not in accordance with the truth of things, affairs cannot be carried on to success.” Confucius, “Analects”

“When we see men of worth, we should think of equalling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.” Confucius, “Analects”

“He who acts with a constant view to his own advantage will be much murmured against.” Confucius, “Analects”

“Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs.” Confucius, “Analects”

“How do we know that his future will not be equal to our present?” Confucius, “Analects”

“He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.” Confucius, “Analects”

“The man of virtue makes the difficulty to be overcome his first business, and success only a subsequent consideration;— this may be called perfect virtue.” Confucius, “Analects”

“I am not concerned that I am not known, I seek to be worthy to be known.” Confucius, “Analects”

“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.” Confucius, “Analects”

“Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know men.” Confucius, “Analects”

“To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.” Confucius, “Analects”

“When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.” Confucius, “Analects”

“By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.” Confucius, “Analects”

Related topics

knowledge virtue modesty speech words good truth success work excess acts worth reciprocity men death life youth courage seeking fear

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Confucius quotes