Quotes from Confucius

"One atom of the plane where He functions would shatter the world."

Straightforwardness, without the rules of propriety, becomes rudeness.

Is there any one maxim which ought to be acted upon throughout one's whole life? Surely the maxim of loving kindness is such: Do not unto others what you would not they should do unto you.

Learning without thought is labor lost; and thought without learning is perilous.

By nature, near together; by practice far apart.

There are three methods to gaining wisdom. The first is reflection, which is the highest. The second is limitation, which is the easiest. The third is experience, which is the bitterest.

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

Tzu-chang asked Master K'ung about Goodness. Master K'ung said, He who could put the Five into practice everywhere under Heaven would be Good. Tzu-chang begged to hear what these were. The Master said, Courtesy, breadth, good faith, diligence, and clemency.

To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.

The object of the superior man is truth.

Heaven means to be one with God.

The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest success only comes later.