Confucius Quotes

Knowledge is, indeed, that which, next to virtue, truly and essentially raises one man above another.

There is more value in a little study of humility and in a single act of it than in all the knowledge in the world.

The walls of that grand edifice called a good character have to be worked at during life.

Respect for self is the beginning of cultivating virtue in men and women.

The object of the superior man is truth.

We are apt to love praise, but not deserve it. But if we would deserve it, we must love virtue more than that.

I don't want to be interesting. I want to be good.

What, pray, does it profit a man to teach others, and to be prating always about virtue, in high-sounding words, if he fails to give heed to his own instructions?

Never stop working on your statue until the divine glory of virtue shines out on you, until you see self-mastery enthroned upon its holy seat.

Your success stops where your character stops. You can never rise above the limitations of your character.

It is easier to enrich ourselves with a thousand virtues, than to correct ourselves of a single fault.

Be humble, if thou would'st attain to wisdom. Be humbler still, when wisdom thou hast mastered.

It is not in everyone's power to secure wealth, office, or honors; but everyone may be good, generous, and wise.

Never support two weaknesses at the same time. It's your combination sinners - your lecherous liars and your miserly drunkards - who dishonor the vices and bring them into bad repute.

New habits make new horizons. Silently and imperceptibly you are forming habits which will ultimately determine the degree of your happiness and success. Closely guard the quality of your thoughts, that they may lead to right habits and thence to right living. Recognize and use such supreme qualities as courage, faith, humility, loyalty, temperance, and integrity.

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.

Through zeal, knowledge is gotten, through lack of zeal, knowledge is lost; let a man who knows this double path of gain and loss thus place himself that knowledge may grow.

Character is perfectly educated will.

If you want the secondary greatness of recognized talent, focus first on primary greatness of character.

I try my best to be a good person and be the best I can be.

I try to be a good person. I know what my downfalls are, so that's a good thing.

Virtue is an inner strength. It expands your nature.

Our ideals are our better selves.

If you are not egotistical, you will welcome the opportunity to learn more.