WednesdayFeb 11, 2026
Quotes: 53419 Authors: 9969
The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.
Old age, believe me, is a good and pleasant thing. It is true you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator.
Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.
They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.
If names are not correct, language will not be in accordance with the truth of things.
Whosesoever you go, go with all your heart.
Heaven means to be one with God.
Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.
And imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.
If the people be led by laws, and uniformity sought to be given them by punishments, they will try to avoid the punishment, but have no sense of shame.
The cautious seldom err.
If a man take no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.
I am not concerned that I am not known, I seek to be worthy to be known.
I used to spend whole days without food and whole nights without sleep in order to meditate. But I made no progress. Study, I found, was better.
The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest; success only comes later.
The injury of prodigality leads to this, that he who will not economize will have to agonize.
The perfecting of one's self is the fundamental base of all progress and all moral development.
Ignorance is the night of the mind, A night without moon or star.
From the Emperor down to the masses of the people, All must consider the cultivation of the person the root of everything else.
Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know men.
Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honors depend upon heaven.
The army commander of a large State may be carried off, But the will of even a common man cannot be taken for him.
Assistance, invoke God in his behalf.
Study the past if you would divine the future.
Sincerity and truth are the basis of every virtue.
Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.
Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.
Is not he a sage who neither anticipates deceit nor suspects bad faith in others, yet is prompt to detect them when they appear?
By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is the easiest; And third, by experience, which is the bitterest.
A superior man is modest in his speech, But exceeds in his actions.
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
A picture is a poem without words.
Silence is the true friend that never betrays.
Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.
To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.
The superior man will watch over himself when he is alone. He examines his heart that there may be nothing wrong there, and that he may have no cause of dissatisfaction with himself.
The way of a superior man is threefold: Virtuous, he is free from anxieties; Wise, he is free from perplexities; Bold, he is free from fear.
The wheel of fortune turns round incessantly, and who can say to himself, I shall to-day be uppermost.
There is the love of knowing without the love of learning; the beclouding here leads to dissipation of mind.
To know what is right and not to do it is the worst cowardice.
The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.
When anger rises, think of the consequences.
The superior man acts before he speaks, And afterwards speaks according to his action.
To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness.
We take greater pains to persuade others that we are happy than in endeavoring to think so ourselves.
Virtue cannot live in solitude: neighbors are sure to grow up around it.
Virtue is more to man than either water or fire. I have seen men die from treading on water and fire, but I have never seen a man die from treading the course of virtue.
We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression.
True goodness springs from a man's own heart. All men are born good.
To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.
The rich fool is like a pig that is choked by its own fat.
When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself.
Things that are done, it is needless to speak about... Things that are past, it is needless to blame.
Men's natures are alike; It is their habits that carry them far apart.
Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
Everything has its beauty, But not everyone see it.
Learning without thought is labor lost; Thought without learning is perilous.
The heart of the wise, like a mirror should reflect all objects without being sullied by any.
A country of a thousand war-chariots cannot be administered unless the ruler attends strictly to business, punctually observes his promises, is economical in expenditure, loves the people, and uses the labor of the peasantry only at the proper times of year.
The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.
It is not failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.
Balance is the perfect state of still water. Let that be our model. It remains quiet within and is not disturbed on the surface.
First and foremost, be faithful to your superiors, keep all promises, refuse the friendship of all who are not like you; and if you have made a mistake, do not be afraid of admitting the fact and amending your ways.
Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.
There are three sorts of friendships which are advantageous, and three which are injurious. Friendships with the upright, friendships with the sincere, and friendships with the well informed are advantageous. Friendships with those who flatter, friendships with those of weak principles, and friendships with those who talk cleverly are injurious.
There are three sorts of pleasures which are advantageous, and three which are injurious. Finding pleasure in the discriminating study of ceremonies and music, finding pleasure in discussing the good points in the conduct of others, and finding pleasure in having many wise friends, these are advantageous. But finding pleasure in profligate enjoyments, finding pleasure in idle gadding about, and finding pleasure in feasting, these are injurious.
Just as lavishness leads easily to presumption, so does frugality to meanness. But meanness is a far less serious fault than presumption.
It is only the wisest and the stupidest that cannot change.
Clever talk can confound the workings of virtue, just as small impatiences can confound great projects.
A good man is not mine to see. Could I see a man possessed of constancy, that would satisfy me.
A gentleman is ashamed to let his words outrun his deeds.
The gentleman prefers to be slow in word but diligent in action.
A good man will certainly also possess courage; but a brave man is not necessarily good.
To see what is right, and not do it, is want of courage, or of principle.
A gentleman considers what is right; The vulgar consider what will pay.
He who is influenced neither by the soaking in of slander nor by the assault of denunciation may indeed be called enlightened.
Settle one difficulty, and you keep a hundred away.
It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.
One who has accumulated virtue will certainly also possess eloquence; but he who has eloquence doe not necessarily possess virtue.
The end of the day is near when small men make long shadows.
To know it is not as good as to love it, and to love it is not as good as to take delight in it.
Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others
There are three marks of a superior man: being virtuous, he is free from anxiety; being wise, he is free from perplexity; being brave, he is free from fear.
To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.
The real fault is to have faults and not try to mend them.
Who expects to be able to go out of a house except by the door? How is it then that no one follows this Way of ours?
To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it.
If the gentleman is not serious, he will not be respected, and his learning will not be on a firm foundation. He considers loyalty and faithfulness to be fundamental, has no friends who are not like him, and when he has made mistakes, he is not afraid of correcting them.
Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.
What you do not wish done to yourself, do not unto others
If a man is not good, what has he to do with the rules of propriety? If he is not good, what has he to do with music?
He who wishes to secure the good of others has already secured his own.
Behave when away from home as though you were in the presence of an honored guest. Employ the people as though you were assisting at an important sacrifice. Do not do to others what you would not like yourself. Then there will be no feelings of opposition to you, whether it is the affairs of a state that you are handling or the affairs of a family.
He who is really good can never be unhappy. He who is really wise can never be perplexed. He who is really brave is never afraid.
Without goodness a man cannot endure adversity for long, nor can he enjoy prosperity for long. The good man is naturally at ease with goodness. The wise man cultivates goodness for its advantage.
An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.
In the morning, hear the Way; in the evening, die content!
Yu, shall I teach you what knowledge is? When you know a thing, to recognize that you know it, and when you do not know a thing, to recognize that you do not know it. That is knowledge.
You can cheat an honest man but not make a fool out of him.
When we see men of worth, we should think how we may learn to equal them. When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inward and examine ourselves.
Humility is the solid foundation of all the virtues.
The gentleman holds justice to be of highest importance. If a gentleman has courage but neglects justice, he becomes insurgent. If an inferior man has courage but neglects justice, he becomes a thief.
Man is born with uprightness. If one loses it, he will be lucky if he escapes with his life.
The gentleman is calm and at ease. The gentleman is dignified but not proud; the small man is proud but not dignified.
When internal examination discovers nothing wrong, what is there to be anxious about, what is there to fear?
You judge yourself by what you think you can achieve, others judge you by what have achieved.
A gentleman does not promote a man on account of what he says; nor does he reject sayings, because the speaker is what he is.
A gentleman considers justice to be essential in everything. He practices it according to the principles of propriety. He brings it forth in modesty and faithfully completes it. This is indeed a gentleman.
Look closely into his aims, observe the means by which he pursues them, discover what brings him content and can the man's real worth remain hidden from you?
Recompense injury with justice and recompense kindness with kindness.
Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.
When you know a thing, to hold that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it; this is knowledge
Real knowledge is to know the extent of ones ignorance.
The essence of knowledge is, having it, to apply it; not having it, to confess your ignorance.
If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.
He who learns but does not think, is lost. He who thinks but does not learn, is in great danger.
If we don't know life, how can we know death?
We don't know yet about life, how can we know about death?
The superior man is distressed by the limitation of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability he has.
Can there be a love which does not make demands on its object?
He who remembers from day to day what he has yet to learn, and from month to month what he has learned already, may be said to have a love of learning.
The palest ink is better than the most retentive memory.
A man who has committed a mistake and doesn't correct it, is committing another mistake.
The nobler sort of man emphasizes the good qualities in others, and does not accentuate the bad. The inferior does the reverse.... The nobler sort of man pays special attention to nine points. He is anxious to see clearly, to hear distinctly, to be kindly in his looks, respectful in his demeanor, conscientious in his speech, earnest in his affairs. When in doubt, he is careful to inquire; when in anger, he thinks of the consequences; when offered an opportunity for gain, he thinks only of his duty.
The gentleman can see a question from all sides without bias. The small man is biased and can see a question only from one side.
Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail.
A good man does not worry about not being known by others, but rather is concerned about not knowing them.
A knight whose heart is set upon the Way, but who is ashamed of wearing shabby clothes and eating coarse food, is not worth calling into counsel.
Our headstrong passions shut the door of our souls against God.
To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue: gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.
It is true that we shall not be able to reach perfection, but in our struggle toward it we shall strengthen our characters and give stability to our ideas, so that, whilst ever advancing calmly in the same direction, we shall b e rendered capable of applying the faculties with which we have been gifted to the best possible account.
It is harder to be poor without murmuring than to be rich without arrogance.
The gentleman calls attention to the good points in others; he does not call attention to their defects. The small man does just the reverse of this.
In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of . In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.
How transcendent is the virtue of the middle conduct! Rare for a long time has been its practice among the people.
Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.
Men of principles are always bold, but those who are bold are not always men of principle.
A gentleman, in his plans, thinks of the Way; he does not think how he is going to make a living. Even farming sometimes has a shortage; and even learning may incidentally bring a salary. A gentleman is concerned with the progress of the Way; he is not anxious about poverty.
Do not worry about not holding high position; worry rather about playing your proper role.
When prosperity comes, do not use all of it.
It is better not to proceed at all than to proceed without purpose.
If you would one day renovate yourself, do so from day to day.
One who is by nature daring and is suffering from poverty will not long be law-abiding. Indeed, any men, save those that are truly good, if their sufferings are very great, will be likely to rebel.
If I do not participate in the sacrifice, it is as if I did not sacrifice at all.
To see what is right and not to do it, is want of courage.
Worry not that no one knows of you; seek to be worth knowing.
In vain I have looked for a single man capable of seeing his own faults and bringing the charge home against himself.
He that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.
The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest; success comes only later.
He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.
Silence is a friend who will never betray.
In antiquity men studied for their own sake; nowadays men study for the sake of impressing others.
Study without reflection is a waste of time; reflection without study is dangerous.
The gentleman has nine cares. In seeing he is careful to see clearly; in hearing he is careful to hear distinctly; in his looks he is careful to be kind, in his manner to be respectful, in his words to be sincere, in his work to be diligent. When in doubt he is careful to ask for information; when angry he has a care for the consequences; and when he sees a chance for gain, he thinks carefully whether the pursuits of it would be right.
But if you do not have the Tao yourself, what business have you spending your time in vain efforts to bring corrupt politicians into the right path?
The Way is not for, but from, man; if we take the Way as something superhuman, beyond man, this is not the real Way.
It is goodness that gives to a neighborhood its beauty. One who is free to choose, yet does not prefer to dwell among the good how can he be accorded the name of wise?
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.
The true gentleman does not preach what he practices till he has practiced what he preaches.
To be able under all circumstances to practice five things constitutes perfect virtue; these five things are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.
I have not seen one who loves virtue as he loves beauty.
The superior man understands what is right. The inferior man understands what will sell.
Love of goodness without love of learning degenerates into simple-mindedness. Love of knowledge without love of learning degenerates into utter lack of principle. Love of faithfulness without love of learning degenerates into injurious disregard of consequences. Love of uprightness without love of learning degenerates into harshness. Love of courage without love of learning degenerates into insubordination. Love of strong character without love of learning degenerates into mere recklessness.
I have never seen one who really loves goodness or one who really hates wickedness. One who really loves goodness will not place anything above it. One who really hates wickedness will practice goodness in such a way that wickedness will have no chance to get at him. Is there anyone who has devoted his whole strength to doing good for even as long as a single day? I have not seen anyone give up such an attempt because he had not the strength to go on. Perhaps there is such a case, but I have never seen it.
The commander of the forces of a large State may be carried off, but the will of even a common man cannot be taken from him.
To understand yourself is the key to wisdom.
Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.
Words are the voice of the heart.
We should worship as though the deity were present.
If my mind is not engaged in my worship, it is as though I worshipped not.
To have faults and to be making no effort to amend them is to have faults indeed!
When you see a worthy person, endeavor to emulate him. When you see an unworthy person, then examine your inner self.
A youth, when at home, should be filial, and, abroad, respectful to his elders.
The Master said, Yu, shall I tell you what knowledge is? When you know a thing, to know that you know it, and when you do not know a thing, to recognize that you do not know it. That is knowledge.
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