Confucius Quotes

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.

Writing is how I find out what I believe and what I care most deeply about. It's how I sort through the mess of daily experience and try to make sense of it - by stepping out of it for a while. Writing is how I train a searchlight into the darker corners of my self and the world, as I'm sure I'd never do otherwise.

Reflective thinking turns experience into insight.

Experience teaches us, but we scarcely know what.

Wisdom is knowledge which has become a part of one's being.

To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe.

What is the good of experience if you do not reflect?

Observation more than books and experience more than persons, are the prime educators.

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

If you realize you aren't so wise today as you thought you were yesterday, you're wiser today.

Wisdom begins at the end.

I think I've got wiser.

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.

Wisdom is a gift but has nothing to do with age. That was probably the case with me.

I've seen a lot of things and I've experienced a lot of things.

He who knows others is clever; He who knows himself has discernment.

To understand yourself is the beginning of wisdom.

CONTEMPLATE THE workings of this world, listen to the words of the wise, and take all that is good as your own. With this as your base, open your own door to truth. Do not overlook the truth that is right before you.

Knowledge come from looking around; wisdom comes from looking up.

I've been through a lot. I've thought a lot about life, and I've spent a lot of time studying history and science.

Experience is a dim lamp, which only lights the one who bears it.

I learned from my past.

Experience is the child of thought, and thought is the child of action.

For most of us, wisdom is acquired in the thicket of experience and usually meets us somewhere along the way if we live long enough. But sooner is better than later.

Is there anyone so wise as to learn by the experience of others?