Confucius Quotes

The highest proof of virtue is to possess boundless power without abusing it.

A good man does not spy around for the black spots in others, but presses unswervingly on towards his mark.

Experience shows us Wealth unchaperoned by Virtue is never an innocuous neighbor.

Virtue is a habit of the mind, consistent with nature and moderation and reason.

Your character must be above suspicion and you must be truthful and self-controlled.

A determination never to do what is wrong, prudence, and good-humor, will go far toward securing to you the estimation of the world.

Self-denial is not a virtue; it is only the effect of prudence on rascality.

He cannot be vertuous that is not rigorous.

I have seen men incapable of the sciences, but never any incapable of virtue.

The severest test of character is not so much the ability to keep a secret as it is, when the secret is finally out, to refrain from disclosing that you knew it all along.

Integrity, like humility, is a quality which vanishes the moment we are conscious of it in ourselves. We see it only in others.

I choose goodness... I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

The finest defense of character is correct action. Acquaint yourself with virtue, and you can expect proper treatment from those around you.

The superior man does what is proper to the station in which he is; he does not desire to go beyond this.

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.

There is no royal road or ready way to virtue.

To know what virtue is is not enough; we must endeavor to possess and to practice it, or in some other manner actually ourselves to become good.

Virtue is not a thing you can have by halves; it is or it is not.

Man is born for uprightness. If a man lose his uprightness and yet live, his escape from death is mere good fortune.

Purpose ... is held to be most closely connected with virtue, and to be a better token of our character than are even our acts.

The shortest and surest way to live with honor in the world, is to be in reality what we would appear to be, all human virtues increase and strengthen themselves by the practice and experience of them.

Modesty, that perennial flower planted instinctively in the human breast, blooms therein only as continence guards and virtue keeps.

Honesty: The ability to resist small temptations.

A man should be upright, not be kept upright.