30 Confucius Quotes on Wisdom and Life

Here are 30 Confucius Quotes on Wisdom and Life, along with the approximate time period they were recorded:

  1. “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Analects, Book XI, Chapter 20, 5th century BCE
  2. “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Analects, Book VII, Chapter 22, 5th century BCE
  3. “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
  4. “When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.” – Analects, Book IV, Chapter 17, 5th century BCE
  5. “The superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions.” – Analects, Book XIV, Chapter 27, 5th century BCE
  6. “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.” – Analects, Book II, Chapter 17, 5th century BCE
  7. “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
  8. “He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.” – Analects, Book XIV, Chapter 21, 5th century BCE
  9. “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
  10. “He who acts with a constant view to his own advantage will be much murmured against.” – Analects, Book IV, Chapter 12, 5th century BCE
  11. “To see what is right and not do it is the want of courage.” – Analects, Book II, Chapter 24, 5th century BCE
  12. “The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.” – Analects, Book IV, Chapter 11, 5th century BCE
  13. “The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.” – Analects, Book IV, Chapter 16, 5th century BCE
  14. “The object of the superior man is truth.” – Analects, Book XV, Chapter 31, 5th century BCE
  15. “The superior man is slow in his speech and earnest in his conduct.” – Analects, Book IV, Chapter 24, 5th century BCE
  16. “Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.” – Recorded in various Confucian texts, 5th century BCE
  17. “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
  18. “To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.” – Analects, Book XIV, Chapter 36, 5th century BCE
  19. “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
  20. “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” – Recorded in various Confucian texts, 5th century BCE
  21. “The superior man is satisfied and composed; the mean man is always full of distress.” – Analects, Book VII, Chapter 37, 5th century BCE
  22. “Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation, there is sure to be failure.” – Recorded in various Confucian texts, 5th century BCE
  23. “To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness.” – Analects, Book XVI, Chapter 4, 5th century BCE
  24. “Silence is a true friend who never betrays.” – Recorded in various Confucian texts, 5th century BCE
  25. “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” – Recorded in various Confucian texts, 5th century BCE
  26. “You cannot open a book without learning something.” – Recorded in various Confucian texts, 5th century BCE
  27. “Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star.” – Recorded in various Confucian texts, 5th century BCE
  28. “Study the past if you would define the future.” – Analects, Book II, Chapter 11, 5th century BCE
  29. “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
  30. “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” – Recorded in various Confucian texts, 5th century BCE

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