Quotes from Confucius

The Master said, I have not seen a person who loved virtue, or one who hated what was not virtuous. He who loved virtue, would esteem nothing above it. He who hated what is not virtuous, would practice virtue in such a way that he would not allow anything that is not virtuous to approach his person. Is any one able for one day to apply his strength to virtue? I have not seen the case in which his strength would be insufficient. Should there possibly be any such case, I have not seen it.

Do everything in moderation, even moderation.

Don't worry if you have no position: worry about making yourself worthy of one. Don't worry if you aren't known and admired: devote yourself to a life that deserves admiration.

There are those who act without knowing; I will have none of this. To hear a lot, choose the good, and follow it, to see a lot and learn to recognize it: this is next knowledge.

The wise are free from perplexities; the virtuous from anxiety; and the bold from fear.

The noble-minded are all-encompassing, not stuck in doctrines. Little people are stuck in doctrines.

Insecurity is worse than poverty.

The noble-minded encourage what is beautiful in people and discourage what is ugly in them. Little people do just the opposite.

The Master said, 'Respectfulness, without the rules of propriety, becomes laborious bustle; carefulness, without the rules of propriety, becomes timidity; boldness, without the rules of propriety, becomes insubordination; straightforwardness, without the rules of propriety, becomes rudeness.

The Master said: 'Artful speech and an ingratiating demeanour rarely accompany virtue.

Not to talk with people although they can be talked with is to waste people. To talk with people although they can't be talked with is to waste words. A man of understanding does not waste people, but he also does not waste words.

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