Confucius Quotes

Confucius' collection of the most iconic quotations and thoughts.


Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.


Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.


Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.


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.


Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.


I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.


When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.


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.


Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.


In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.


About Confucius:
The philosophy of Confucius emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity. His followers competed successfully with many other schools during the Hundred Schools of Thought era only to be suppressed in favor of the Legalists during the Qin Dynasty. Following the victory of Han over Chu after the collapse of Qin, Confucius's thoughts received official sanction and were further developed into a system known as Confucianism.