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.Collection: Order
To be fond of learning is near to wisdom; to practice with vigor is near to benevolence; and to be conscious of shame is near to fortitude.Collection: Practice
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 ought to be done, remains undone.Collection: Done
The wise men of antiquity, when they wished to make the whole world peaceful and happy, first put their own States into proper order. Before putting their States into proper order, they regulated their own families. Before regulating their families, they regulated themselves. Before regulating themselves, they tried to be sincere in their thoughts. Before being sincere in their thoughts, they tried to see things exactly as they really were.Collection: Wise
What can a man do with music who is not benevolent?Collection: Men
The wise are free from perplexities; the virtuous from anxiety; and the bold from fear.Collection: Wise
It's only in winter that the pine and cypress are known to be evergreens.Collection: Winter
Chi Wen Tzu always thought three times before taking action. Twice would have been quite enough.Collection: Thinking
To throw oneself into strange teachings is quite dangerous.Collection: Teaching
There are three things which the superior man guards against. In youth ... lust. When he is strong ... quarrelsomeness. When he is old ... covetousness.Collection: Strong
Heaven is author of the virtue that is in meCollection: Heaven
Do not treat others as you yourself would not be treated.Collection: Compassion
Bird in hand makes it harder to blow nose.Collection: Blow
To study and constantly, is this not a pleasure? To have friends come from far away places, is this not a joy? If people do not recognize your worth, but this does not worry you, are you not a true gentleman?Collection: People
But if you do not have the Tao yourself, what business have you spending your time in vain efforts to bring corrupt politicians into the right path?Collection: Business
The virtuous will be sure to speak uprightly; but those whose speech is upright may not be virtuous.Collection: Love
A country of a thousand war-chariots cannot be administered unless the ruler attends strictly to business, punctually observes his promises, is economical in expenditure, loves the people, and uses the labor of the peasantry only at the proper times of year.Collection: Country
The strongest memory is not as strong as the weakest ink.Collection: Strong
those who understands is not better than those who appreciates, those who appreciates is not better than those who enjoys.Collection: Appreciate
The superior man accords with the course of the Mean. Though he may be all unknown, unregarded by the world, he feels no regret - It is only the sage who is able for this.Collection: Regret
The Superior Man is all-embracing and not partial. The inferior man is partial and not all-embracing.Collection: Character
When a nation or family is about to flourish, there are sure to be happy omens; and when it is about to perish, there are sure to be unlucky omens.Collection: Unlucky
The Path is not far from man. When men try to pursue a course, which is far from the common indications of consciousness, this course cannot be considered The Path.Collection: Men
Past scholars studied to improve themselves; Today's scholars study to impress others.Collection: Past
Whatever heaven ordains is best.Collection: Heaven
Love makes a spot beautiful: who chooses not to dwell in love, has he got wisdom?Collection: Beautiful
An angry person is always full of poison.Collection: Poison
All wisdom is rooted in learning to call things by the right name. When things are properly identified, they fall into natural categories and understanding becomes orderly.Collection: Fall
When the multitude detests a man, inquiry is necessary; when the multitude likes a man, inquiry is equally necessary.Collection: Hate
From the loving example of one family a whole State may become loving, and from its courtesies, courteous; while from the ambition and perverseness of the one man the whole State may be thrown into rebellious disorder. Such is the nature of influence.Collection: Ambition
If a man in the morning hear the right way, he may die in the evening without regret.Collection: Life
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.Collection: Wise
Guide the people by law, subdue them by punishment; they may shun crime, but will be void of shame. Guide them by example, subdue them by courtesy; they will learn shame, and come to be good.Collection: Law
The mirror reflects all objects without being sulliedCollection: Reflection
It cannot be when the root is neglected that what springs from it will be well ordered.Collection: Love
When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.Collection: Mistake
I used to listen to what others said, and expect them to act accordingly. But nowadays, I listen to what they say, and then observe what they do.Collection: Used
To understand yourself is the key to wisdom.Collection: Wisdom
If proper in their own conduct, what difficulty would they have in governing? But if not able to be proper in their own conduct, how can they demand such conduct from others?Collection: Demand
Tsze-Kung asked, “Is there one word with which to act in accordance throughout a lifetime?” The Master said, “Is not reciprocity such a word? What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.Collection: Done
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.Collection: Looks
With a heavy load and a long journeyCollection: Journey
With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bent arm for a pillow - I have still joy in the midst of all these things.Collection: Inspirational
place where man laughs, sings, picks flowers, chases butterflies and pets birds, makes love with maidens, and plays with children. Here he spontaneously reveals his nature, the base as well as the noble. Here also he buries his sorrows and difficulties and cherishes his ideals and hopes. It is in the garden that men discover themselves. Indeed one discovers not only his real self but also his ideal self?he returns to his youth. Inevitably the garden is made the scene of man's merriment, escapades, romantic abandonment, spiritual awakening or the perfection of his finer self.Collection: Spiritual
Waste begets self-will; thrift begets meanness: but better be mean than self-willed.Collection: Mean
True goodness springs from a man's own heart. All men are born good.Collection: Spring
Rate the task above the prize; will not the mind be raised? Fight thine own faults, not the faults of others; will not evil be mended?Collection: Fighting
If you don't know the life yet, how could be possible for you to know the death?Collection: Knows
Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.Collection: Dance