Confucius Quotes

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

Honor, without money, is a mere malady.

Let him who elevates himself above humanity . . . say, if he pleases, "I will never compromise"; but let no one who is not above the frailties of our common nature disdain compromise.

Don't be intimidated by power, wealth or station, character alone makes all the difference.

So many things--nay every real thing--is good if only it will be humble and ordinate.

Should you be unfortunate enough to have vices, you may, to a certain degree, even dignify them by a strict observance of decorum;at least they will lose something of their natural turpitude.

One's sense of honor is the only thing that does not grow old, and the last pleasure, when one is worn out with age, is not, as the poet said, making money, but having the respect of one's fellow men.

Be virtuous and you will be eccentric.

Let us ask what is best - not what is customary. Let us love temperance - let us be just - let us refrain from bloodshed.

We know that the exercise of virtue should be its own reward, and it seems to follow that the enduring of it on the part of the patient should be its own punishment.

I consider a good reputation is a great part of the human happiness. Some people, if they are very, very rich can permit themselves certain negligence to their reputations.

If I am virtuous and worthy, for whom should I not maintain a proper concern?

people who pay greater respect to a wealthy villain than to an honest, upright man in poverty, almost deserve to be enslaved; they plainly show that wealth, however it may be acquired, is, in their esteem, to be preferred to virtue.

I wouldn't judge a man by the presuppositions of his life, but only by the fruits of his life. And the fruits - the relevant fruits - are, I'd say, a sense of charity, a sense of proportion, a sense of justice.

The gospel chargeth us with piety towards God, and justice and charity to men, and temperance and chastity in reference to ourselves.

Virtue shows quite as well in rags and patches as she does in purple and fine linen.

We can forgive a man for making a useful thing as long as he does not admire it

And that whole do-able/undo-able thing? Yeah. Need I point out that neither Ruth nor I have ever "done" anybody in our lives?

I think that ethical behaviour is another feature of the kind of inner discipline that leads to a happier existence.

The truest test of civilization, culture and dignity is character and not clothing.

That wealth and greatness are often regarded with the respect and admiration which are due only to wisdom and virtue; and that the contempt, of which vice and folly are the only proper objects, is most often unjustly bestowed upon poverty and weakness, has been the complaint of moralists in all ages.

You can't win integrity and honor from games. You can only earn them from living a life dedicated to those ideals.

A man who wouldn't cheat for a poke don't want one bad enough. --Augustus "Gus" McCrae

The real beggar is indeed the true and only king.