Confucius (c. 551 BCE–479 BCE), also known as Kong Qiu or K’ung Fu-tzu, was an influential Chinese philosopher, teacher and political figure. His teachings, preserved in the Analects, focused on creating ethical models of family and public interaction and setting educational standards. After his death, Confucius became the official imperial philosophy of China, which was extremely influential during the Han, Tang and Song dynasties.

Confucius left behind an impressive collection of inspiring and timeless words of wisdom.

So the next time you want information about something you’re dealing with, when you need encouragement or want advice or guidance, see if one of these Confucius quotes and sayings  is right for you.

As you read these sayings and quotes, you will see that his words of wisdom can be applied to so many situations, which is why they please everyone.

126 Memorable Confucius Quotes and Saying

• “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it. “ – Confucius
• “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” – Confucius

• “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. “ – Confucius
• “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.” – Confucius
• “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.” – Confucius
• “It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve, and bad things are very easy to get.” – Confucius

• “Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness. “ – Confucius
• “Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without. “ – Confucius
• “Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses. “ – Confucius
• “Sincerity is the way of heaven.” – Confucius
• “To love a thing means wanting it to live. “ – Confucius
• “In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.” – Confucius
• “To be wealthy and honored in an unjust society is a disgrace.” – Confucius
• “First there must be order and harmony within your own mind. Then this order will spread to your family, then to the community, and finally to your entire kingdom. Only then can you have peace and harmony.” – Confucius

• “Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.” – Confucius
• “To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short. “ – Confucius
• “Your life is what your thoughts make it.” – Confucius
• “We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression.” – Confucius
• “What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.” – Confucius
• “Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts? “ – Confucius
• “It is not possible for one to teach others who cannot teach his own family. “ – Confucius
• “And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.” – Confucius
• “He who excels in study can follow an official career. “ – Confucius
• “The journey with a 1000 miles begins with one step.” – Confucius

• “A lack of patience in trifling matters might lead to the disruption of great project.” — Confucius
• “They must often change who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.” – Confucius
• “It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
• “When anger rises, think of the consequences.” – Confucius
• “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals; adjust the action steps.” – Confucius
• “To see what is right, and not to do it, is want of courage or of principle.” – Confucius
• “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” – Confucius
•  “Roads were made for journeys, not destinations.” – Confucius

• “What you do not wish upon yourself, extend not to others.” – Confucius
• “We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression.” – Confucius
• “To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.” – Confucius
• “To be wealthy and honored in an unjust society is a disgrace.” – Confucius
• “The way you cut your meat reflects the way you live.” – Confucius
• “Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly.” – Confucius
• “The object of the superior man is truth.” -Confucius
• “Three things cannot long be hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” – Confucius
• “To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.” – Confucius
• “To understand yourself is the key to wisdom.” – Confucius
• “When anger rises, think of the consequences.” – Confucius
• “A man of wisdom delights in water.” – Confucius
• “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.” – Confucius
• “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” – Confucius

• “Love is like a spice. It can sweeten your life – however, it can spoil it, too.” – Confucius
• “Learn as if you were not reaching your goal and as though you were scared of missing it.” -Confucius
• “And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.” – Confucius
• “Learn avidly. Question it repeatedly. Analyze it carefully. Then put what you have learned into practice intelligently.” – Confucius
• “Anyone can find the switch after the lights are on.” – Confucius
• “It is man that makes truth great, not truth that makes man great.” – Confucius
• “The way you cut your meat reflects the way you live.” – Confucius
•  “Faithfulness and sincerity are the highest things.” – Confucius
• “Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly.” – Confucius
• “Three things cannot long be hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” – Confucius
• “The object of the superior man is truth.” -Confucius
• “To love a thing means wanting it to live.” – Confucius
• “A man of wisdom delights in water.” – Confucius
• “Sincerity is the way of heaven.” – Confucius
• “One joy dispels a hundred cares.” – Confucius
• “When anger rises, think of the consequences.” – Confucius
• “A lack of patience in trifling matters might lead to the disruption of great project.” – Confucius

Related: Buddha Quotes

• “To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.” – Confucius
• “Straight-forwardness, without the rules of propriety, becomes rudeness.” – Confucius
•  “The true gentleman does not preach what he practices till he has practiced what he preaches.” – Confucius
• “Silence is a true friend who never betrays.” – Confucius
• “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.” – Confucius
• “Learn as if you were not reaching your goal and as though you were scared of missing it.” -Confucius
• “To understand yourself is the key to wisdom.” – Confucius
• “What you do not wish upon yourself, extend not to others.” – Confucius
• “Base yourself in loyalty and trust. Don’t be a companion with those who are not your moral equal. When you make a mistake, don’t hesitate to correct it.” – Confucius

Related: Inspiring quotes on life lessons

• “Sincerity is that whereby self-completion is effected, and its way is that by which man must direct himself.” — Confucius
• “To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.” — Confucius
• “A lion chased me up a tree, and I greatly enjoyed the view from the top.” — Confucius
• “Study the past, if you would divine the future.” — Confucius
• “The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.” — Confucius
• “True goodness springs from a man’s own heart. All men are born good.” — Confucius
• “The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.” — Confucius

• “Do not let a leader lead you on a bad path.” — Confucius
• “Study without reflection is a waste of time; reflection without study is dangerous.” — Confucius
• “Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.” – Confucius
•  “Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.” – Confucius
•  “You are what you think.” – Confucius
•  “Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.” – Confucius
• “He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.” – Confucius
•  “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius
•  “You can successfully force people to follow a certain course, but you cannot force them to understand it.” – Confucius
•  “Knowing something is not as good as liking it. Liking something is not as good as rejoicing in it.” – Confucius
•  “Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.” – Confucius
•  “I slept and dreamt life is beauty, I woke and found life is duty.” – Confucius
•  “No matter how busy you make think you are you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.” – Confucius

•  “If you try to do too much, you will not achieve anything.” – Confucius
•  “The superior man is satisfied and composed; the mean man is always full of distress.” – Confucius
• “When wealth is centralized, the people are dispersed. When wealth is distributed, the people are brought together.” – Confucius
• “There are three degrees of filial piety. The highest is being a credit to our parents, the second is not disgracing them; the lowest is being able simply to support them.” – Confucius
• “A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do we know that his future will not be equal to our present?”-Confucius
• “To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it.” – Confucius
•  “When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points.” – Confucius

Related: Best Lao Tzu Quotes On Life, Love, Healing & Happiness

• “To be truly happy and contented, you must let go of what it means to be happy or content.” – Confucius
•  “Don’t complain about the snow on your neighbor’s roof when your own doorstep is unclean.” – Confucius
•  “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” – Confucius
•  “Let the states of equilibrium and harmony exist in perfection, and a happy order will prevail throughout heaven and earth, and all things will be nourished and flourish.” – Confucius
•  “Ah, music, sacred tongue of God! I hear thee calling and I come.” – Confucius
•  “If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.” – Confucius
•  “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” – Confucius

•  “They must often change who would remain constant in happiness and wisdom.” – Confucius
•  “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” – Confucius
• “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.” – Confucius
•  “Have no friends not equal to yourself.” – Confucius
• “He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.” – Confucius
•  “By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.” – Confucius
• “Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.” – Confucius

• “I want you to be everything that’s you, deep at the center of your being.” – Confucius
• “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” – Confucius
• “It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
• “Men’s natures are alike, it is their habits that carry them far apart.” – Confucius
• “Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius
• “The man who says he can, and the man who says he can not… Are both correct.” – Confucius
• “A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.” – Confucius