Here are 30 Confucius Quotes on Wisdom and Life, along with the approximate time period they were recorded:
- “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Analects, Book XI, Chapter 20, 5th century BCE
- “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Analects, Book VII, Chapter 22, 5th century BCE
- “He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.” – Analects, Book II, Chapter 15, 5th century BCE
- “When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.” – Analects, Book IV, Chapter 17, 5th century BCE
- “The superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions.” – Analects, Book XIV, Chapter 27, 5th century BCE
- “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.” – Analects, Book II, Chapter 17, 5th century BCE
- “The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability that he has.” – Analects, Book XV, Chapter 18, 5th century BCE
- “He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.” – Analects, Book XIV, Chapter 21, 5th century BCE
- “If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.” – Analects, Book XV, Chapter 11, 5th century BCE
- “He who acts with a constant view to his own advantage will be much murmured against.” – Analects, Book IV, Chapter 12, 5th century BCE
- “To see what is right and not do it is the want of courage.” – Analects, Book II, Chapter 24, 5th century BCE
- “The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.” – Analects, Book IV, Chapter 11, 5th century BCE
- “The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.” – Analects, Book IV, Chapter 16, 5th century BCE
- “The object of the superior man is truth.” – Analects, Book XV, Chapter 31, 5th century BCE
- “The superior man is slow in his speech and earnest in his conduct.” – Analects, Book IV, Chapter 24, 5th century BCE
- “Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.” – Recorded in various Confucian texts, 5th century BCE
- “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” – Recorded in various Confucian texts, 5th century BCE
- “To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.” – Analects, Book XIV, Chapter 36, 5th century BCE
- “The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.” – Recorded in various Confucian texts, 5th century BCE
- “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” – Recorded in various Confucian texts, 5th century BCE
- “The superior man is satisfied and composed; the mean man is always full of distress.” – Analects, Book VII, Chapter 37, 5th century BCE
- “Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation, there is sure to be failure.” – Recorded in various Confucian texts, 5th century BCE
- “To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness.” – Analects, Book XVI, Chapter 4, 5th century BCE
- “Silence is a true friend who never betrays.” – Recorded in various Confucian texts, 5th century BCE
- “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” – Recorded in various Confucian texts, 5th century BCE
- “You cannot open a book without learning something.” – Recorded in various Confucian texts, 5th century BCE
- “Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star.” – Recorded in various Confucian texts, 5th century BCE
- “Study the past if you would define the future.” – Analects, Book II, Chapter 11, 5th century BCE
- “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.” – Analects, Book II, Chapter 1, 5th century BCE
- “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” – Recorded in various Confucian texts, 5th century BCE