The most famous sayings of Confucius. Wise sayings of Confucius: quotes, aphorisms and their meaning
There is no need to mock young people, looking at them from the height of years lived and absorbed experience. Youths will also achieve success by the age of forty or fifty. And then you can make a comparative description of achievements and merits.
Everyone makes mistakes in their own way. By the mistakes of an individual one can, with a high degree of probability, judge moral qualities, humanity and rationality. – Confucius
All passionate people differ in their warmth, genius and talent. They will hear the unheard, see the invisible and save the defenseless.
If he is smart and faithful, he will do as his heart dictates. If he is a klutz and a freethinker, he shirks his duties and disobeys orders.
A noble warrior without a king in his head, but brave and courageous in battle, can betray at the most inopportune moment. A brave man, not deprived of high morals, can follow the narrow path of robbery and robbery.
Confucius: People constantly want wealth, recognition and fame. It is almost impossible to honestly achieve the desired benefits - avoid such people on the tenth road.
It is human nature to strive for the best everywhere. Therefore, a noble man is hasty in his undertakings and slow in his speeches. Association with virtuous people will correct these and other shortcomings over time.
Read the continuation of Confucius's quotes on the pages:
A noble man blames himself, a small man blames others.
To respect every person as ourselves, and to treat him as we wish to be treated—there is nothing higher than this.
People want wealth and fame for themselves; if both cannot be obtained honestly, they should be avoided.
Virtue will not remain alone. She will definitely have neighbors.
It is enough that the words express the meaning.
Anyone who learns without thinking will fall into error. Anyone who thinks without wanting to learn will find himself in difficulty.
People in ancient times did not like to talk much. They considered it a shame for themselves not to keep up with their own words.
When the paths are not the same, they do not make plans together.
If you don't have bad thoughts, you won't have bad deeds.
Sophisticated words destroy virtue. Intemperance in small things will ruin a great cause.
When words lose their meaning, people lose freedom.
Changes do not occur only with the highest wisdom and the lowest stupidity.
Of all crimes, the most serious is heartlessness.
Do not have friends who are inferior to you in moral terms.
Study as if you constantly feel the lack of your knowledge, and as if you are constantly afraid of losing your knowledge.
Don't complain about snow on your neighbor's roof if your own threshold isn't cleared.
When away from home, behave as if you are receiving honored guests. When using the services of people, behave as if you were performing a solemn ceremony. Don't do to others what you wouldn't want for yourself. Then there will be no discontent either in the state or in the family.
A noble husband does not expect deception from anyone, but when he is deceived, he is the first to notice it.
Don't worry about people not knowing you, but worry about not knowing people.
Study as if you cannot gain and as if you are afraid of losing.
Someone asked: “Is it true that they say that evil must be repaid with good?” The teacher said: “Then how to pay for good? Evil must be repaid with justice, and good with good.”
If we know so little about life, what can we know about death?
A noble husband helps people see what is good in them, and does not teach people to see what is bad in them. But a short person does the opposite.
If we know so little about life, what can we know about death?
The only real mistake is not correcting your past mistakes.
Noble people live in harmony with other people, but do not follow other people; lowly people follow other people, but do not live in harmony with them.
The only real mistake is not correcting your past mistakes.
In relations with friends, advise them to do only what they are capable of doing, and lead them to goodness without violating decency, but do not try to act where there is no hope of success. Don't put yourself in a humiliating position.
Don't do to others what you wouldn't want for yourself.
How can you deal with someone you can't trust? If a cart doesn't have an axle, how can you ride in it?
A restrained person has fewer mistakes.
Silence is a great friend that will never change.
We trust our eyes - but they cannot be trusted; we rely on our heart - but we shouldn’t rely on it either. Remember, students: it is truly not easy to know a person!
If you are straightforward, then everything will be done without orders. And if they themselves are not straight, they will not obey, even if they are ordered.
When you don’t know words, there’s no way to get to know people.
When the state is governed according to reason, poverty and want are shameful; when the state is not governed in accordance with reason, then wealth and honor are shameful.
Blessed is the one who knows nothing: he does not risk being misunderstood.
A worthy person does not follow in the footsteps of other people.
Be hard on yourself and gentle on others. This way you will protect yourself from human hostility.
If a person is firm, decisive, simple and quiet, then he is already close to humanity.
I’m not upset if people don’t understand me, I’m upset if I don’t understand people.
A noble husband knows his superiority, but avoids competition. He gets along with everyone, but does not collude with anyone.
If you have the opportunity to show mercy, do not even let the teacher go ahead.
Without mastering decency, you will not establish yourself.
Learning without reflection is useless, but reflection without learning is also dangerous.
To study and, when the time comes, to apply what you have learned to work - isn’t it wonderful!
A noble man strives to speak tongue-tied and act skillfully.
A noble husband must beware of three things in his life: in his youth, when vitality is abundant, beware of infatuation with women; in maturity, when the vital forces are powerful, beware of rivalry; in old age, when vitality is scarce, beware of stinginess.
A noble husband, attached to the comforts of home, is not worthy to be called such.
A truly humane husband achieves everything through his own efforts.
A noble husband endures adversity with fortitude. And a low man in trouble blossoms.
Noble people live in harmony with other people, but do not follow other people; lowly people follow other people, but do not live in harmony with them.
When they proceed only from profit, they multiply anger.
In ancient times, people studied in order to improve themselves. Nowadays they study in order to surprise others.
A noble man knows only duty, a low man knows only benefit.
Everyone can become a noble husband. You just need to decide to become one.
To control oneself so much as to respect others as oneself, and to do with them as we wish to be treated with us, is what can be called the doctrine of philanthropy.
A noble husband does not strive to eat his fill and live richly. He is hasty in business, but slow in speech. Communicating with virtuous people, he corrects himself.
A noble husband values duty above all else.
Even in the company of two people, I will certainly find something to learn from them. I will try to imitate their virtues, and I myself will learn from their shortcomings.
Anyone who, turning to the old, is able to discover new things, is worthy of being a teacher.
Silence is a true friend that will never change.
Not talking to a person who is worthy of talking means losing a person. And talking to a person who is not worthy of conversation means losing words. The wise man loses neither people nor words.
In a country where there is order, be bold in both actions and speeches. In a country where there is no order, be bold in your actions, but careful in your speech.
A wise man knows no worries, a humane man knows no worries, a brave man knows no fear.
A noble husband thinks about the righteous path and does not think about food. He can work in the field - and be hungry. He can devote himself to teaching - and accept generous rewards. But a noble man worries about the righteous path and does not worry about poverty.
A noble man lives in harmony with everyone, but a low man seeks his own kind.
A wise man is ashamed of his shortcomings, but is not ashamed to correct them.
A worthy person cannot but possess a breadth of knowledge and fortitude. His burden is heavy and his path is long.
If you are overly zealous in your service, you will lose the favor of the sovereign. If you are overly cordial in your friendship, you will lose the favor of your friends.
Give instructions only to those who seek knowledge after discovering their ignorance. Provide help only to those who do not know how to clearly express their cherished thoughts. Teach only those who are able, having learned about one corner of a square, to imagine the other three.
Without knowing fate, you cannot become a noble husband. Without knowing what you should, you cannot find support in life. Without learning to understand the true meaning of words, you cannot know people.
Don't worry about not having a high rank. Worry about whether you are worthy to have a high rank. Don't worry about not being known.
The teacher said: My case seems hopeless. I have not yet met a person who, knowing about his mistakes, would admit his guilt to himself.
Complaining about an unpleasant thing is doubling the evil; to laugh at her is to destroy him.
If nature overshadows education in a person, the result is a savage, and if education overshadows nature, the result is a scholar of the scriptures. Only one in whom nature and education are in balance can be considered a worthy husband.
At the age of fifteen I turned my thoughts to study. At thirty I became independent. At the age of forty I got rid of doubts. At the age of fifty I learned the will of heaven. At the age of sixty I learned to distinguish truth from falsehood. At seventy years old, I began to follow the desires of my heart.
Having learned the truth in the morning, you can die in the evening.
People in ancient times did not like to talk much. They considered it a shame for themselves not to keep up with their own words.
A noble man awaits the commands of Heaven with dignity. A short man fussily waits for luck.
A noble husband is serene in his soul. A low person is always preoccupied.
People are afraid of poverty and obscurity; if both cannot be avoided without losing honor, they should be accepted.
Worry about whether you are worthy of being known.
Confucius, (ca. 551–479 BC), Chinese philosopher, founder of Confucianism
Noble people live in harmony with other people, but do not follow other people; lowly people follow other people, but do not live in harmony with them.
A noble husband must beware of three things in his life: in his youth, when vitality is abundant, beware of infatuation with women; in maturity, when the vital forces are powerful, beware of rivalry; in old age, when vitality is scarce, beware of stinginess.
A noble husband does not strive to eat his fill and live richly. He is hasty in business, but slow in speech. Communicating with virtuous people, he corrects himself.
Everyone can become a noble husband. You just need to decide to become one.
The only real mistake is not correcting your past mistakes.
If he himself is direct, then everything will be done without orders. And if they themselves are not straight, they will not obey, even if they are ordered.
If you don't have bad thoughts, you won't have bad actions.
Complaining about an unpleasant thing is doubling the evil; to laugh at her is to destroy him.
Whoever cannot concentrate within himself or is carried away by something, when seeing, he will not see, when he hears, he will not hear, and when he tastes, he will not discern the taste.
Don't worry about people not knowing you, but worry about not knowing people.
Do not be sad that no one knows you, but strive to be someone who can be known.
Not talking to a person who is worthy of talking means losing a person. And talking to a person who is not worthy of conversation means losing words. The wise man loses neither people nor words.
Without mastering decency, you will not establish yourself.
To name it correctly means to understand it correctly.
The secret of good government: let the ruler be the ruler, the subject be the subject, the father be the father, and the son be the son.
To respect every person as ourselves, and to do with him as we wish to be treated with us - there is nothing higher than this.
Pay for evil justly. And repay good with good.
A wise man knows no worries, a humane man knows no worries, a brave man knows no fear.
A perfect person looks for everything in himself, an insignificant person - in others.
Knowing what needs to be done and not doing it is the worst kind of cowardice.
A noble man awaits the dictates of heaven with dignity. A short man fussily waits for luck.
Five things constitute perfect virtue: earnestness, generosity of soul, sincerity, diligence and kindness.
A noble man knows only duty, a low man knows only benefit.
I used to listen to people's words and believe in their deeds. Now I listen to people's words and look at their deeds.
Study as if you are unable to achieve knowledge, as if you are afraid of losing it.
Blessed is the one who knows nothing: he does not risk being misunderstood.
It is easier to overcome bad habits today than tomorrow.
Don't worry about not having a high rank. Worry about whether you are worthy to have a high rank. Don't worry about not being known. Worry about whether you are worthy of being known.
Anyone who, turning to the old, is able to discover new things, is worthy of being a teacher.
A noble husband does not expect deception from anyone, but when he is deceived, he is the first to notice it.
I’m not upset if people don’t understand me, I’m upset if I don’t understand people.
A person has three ways to act wisely: the first, the most noble, is reflection; the second, the easiest, is imitation; the third, the most bitter, is experience.
A noble man strives to speak tongue-tied and act skillfully.
In a country where there is order, be bold in both actions and speeches. In a country where there is no order, be bold in your actions, but careful in your speech.
A noble husband helps people see what is good in them, and does not teach people to see what is bad in them. But a short person does the opposite.
A noble man endures adversity steadfastly, but a lowly man crumbles in trouble.
When the paths are not the same, they do not make plans together.
If you are overzealous in your service, you will lose the favor of the sovereign. If you are overly cordial in your friendship, you will lose the favor of your friends.
In relations with friends, advise them to do only what they are capable of doing, and lead them to goodness without violating decency, but do not try to act where there is no hope of success. Don't put yourself in a humiliating position.
Be hard on yourself and gentle on others. This way you will protect yourself from human hostility.
A noble husband knows his superiority, but avoids competition. He gets along with everyone, but does not collude with anyone.
Building relationships correctly is most difficult with women and low people. If you bring them closer to you, they will become cheeky; if you move them away from you, they will hate you.
A noble man lives in harmony with everyone, but a low man seeks his own kind.
Visiting and listening to evil people is already the beginning of an evil deed.
When assessing worldly affairs, a noble man neither rejects nor approves of anything, but measures everything by justice.
The greatest glory is not in never failing, but in being able to rise every time you fall.
A noble husband, attached to the comforts of home, is not worthy to be called such.
Signs and symbols rule the world, not words and laws.
He who repeats the old and learns the new can be a leader.
A noble husband always thinks about virtue; the commoner thinks about convenience.
A noble man makes demands on himself, a low man makes demands on others.
Leading untrained people to war means ruining them.
Rule is correction. Who dares not to correct himself when you yourself correct yourself?
The secret of a good ruler: let a ruler be a ruler, a subject be a subject, a father be a father, and a son be a son.
To recognize a duty and not fulfill it is cowardice.
The virtue of the sages resembles a journey to a distant land and an ascent to a height: those going to a distant land begin walking with the first step, those ascending to a height begin from the foot of the mountain.
Helpful friends are a straightforward friend, a sincere friend and a friend who has heard a lot. Harmful friends are a hypocritical friend, an insincere friend and a talkative friend.
A high soul strives for virtue at the slightest opportunity; a low soul can only crawl towards its goal.
The love or hatred of nations should not be the law of your love or hatred: examine whether they are just.
Each of us, from the emperor to the commoner, must first of all take care of moral self-improvement, since this is the source of the common good. For if the beginning is imperfect, how can the end be perfect?
In ancient times, people studied in order to improve themselves. Nowadays people study in order to surprise others.
Silence is a true friend that will never change.
People in ancient times did not like to talk much. They considered it a shame for themselves not to keep up with their own words.
Learning without reflection is useless, but reflection without learning is also dangerous.
The word must be true, the action must be decisive.
A worthy person does not follow in the footsteps of other people.
When you meet a worthy person, think about how to become equal to him. When dating a low person, take a closer look at yourself and judge yourself.
A worthy person cannot but possess a breadth of knowledge and fortitude. His burden is heavy and his path is long. Humanity is the burden he bears: isn’t it heavy? Only death completes his journey: isn’t it long?
Observe a person’s behavior, delve into the reasons for his actions, look closely at him during his leisure hours. Will he then remain a mystery to you?
Not talking to a person who is worthy of talking means losing a person. Talking to a person who is not worthy of conversation means losing words. The wise man loses neither people nor words.
Those who do not think about distant difficulties will certainly face near-term troubles.
Sophisticated words destroy virtue. Intemperance in small things will ruin a great cause.
Archery teaches us how to seek the truth. When a shooter misses, he does not blame others, but looks for the blame in himself.
The most worthy men escaped the shackles of the whole world, followed by those who escaped attachment to a certain place, followed by those who escaped the temptations of the flesh, followed by those who were able to avoid slander.
By their natural inclinations people are close to each other, but by their habits they are far from each other.
Changes do not occur only with the highest wisdom and the lowest stupidity.
Even in the company of two people, I will certainly find something to learn from them. I will try to imitate their virtues, and I myself will learn from their shortcomings.
A truly humane husband achieves everything through his own efforts.
Anyone who speaks beautifully and has an attractive appearance is rarely truly human.
A person devoid of humanity will not remain in cramped circumstances for long, nor will he remain idle for long.
Man expands the Path, not the Path expands man.
It is easier to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.
How can we know what death is when we do not yet know what life is?
This man did not invent anything new, but his main merit is that he was a truly sensible person and thought about ordinary people more than about himself. The teachings of Confucius offered people not paradise in heaven after death, but paradise on earth, moreover, during life - here and now.
If humanity had listened to his words and tried to follow the teachings of Confucius, the world today would certainly be a very different and much better place. One thing Confucius did not take into account is that people who are not accustomed to thinking will not think about his teaching, which means they are unlikely to ever understand and accept Confucianism.
But Confucius still believed in man and therefore devoted his entire life to preaching his teachings. However, there were people who nevertheless appreciated the teachings of Confucius - at one time Confucianism was even considered the official state religion (during the Han Dynasty - 206 - 220 AD).
The basis of Confucius's teachings was two simple virtues - "ren" and "li". “Ren” can be translated as “benevolent attitude towards others,” and “li” can be translated as “rules of behavior, etiquette, traditions, respect for elders.” That's it, everything is very simple and clear.
But still, the peculiarity of Confucius’s teachings lies primarily in humanity. Perhaps Confucianism is the only religion (even though it is not a religion at all) that cares primarily about the living person, and not about mysterious invisible souls or a mythical afterlife.
A person, an ordinary living person, first of all a small person - this is the hero of the teachings of Confucius, this is who the great philosopher cared about, and therefore, even when Confucianism was banned in China (during the Qin Dynasty - 221 BC), people secretly passed on the teachings of Confucius from generation to generation so that it would be passed on to their descendants. Thanks to the good people for this foresight.
However, despite the very wide dissemination of the teachings of Confucius in the East, Confucianism has not taken root in the West - where the cult of dictatorship and profit flourishes, people are less and less concerned about honest and fair relations among themselves. Looking at the current state of affairs in most regions of the Earth, it seems that Westerners should take the teachings of Confucius more seriously.
Without a doubt, the great philosopher Confucius and his teaching will remain with humanity forever, at least as long as people are still born who are capable of thinking and thinking soberly.
Confucius was one of the first to propose the idea of building a highly moral and harmonious society. And the golden rule of his teaching sounded like this: "Don't do to others what you don't wish for yourself" . The lessons of Confucius are simple and understandable to every person - this is probably why they inspire and make people better people so effectively.
We bring to your attention the most famous sayings and advice of this Great and Wise Man.
9 life lessons from Confucius
1. Just keep moving. "It doesn't matter how slow you go as long as you don't stop."
If you keep moving in the right direction, you will eventually arrive at your destination. Perseverance must be consistent, everyone can achieve success without stopping movement. A person who achieves success is a person who remains committed to his goal, despite the circumstances.
2. Sharpen your tools. "Expectations in life depend on diligence. A craftsman who perfects his work needs to sharpen his tools.".
Confucius said: “Success depends on preliminary preparation; without preparation you will definitely fail.”. Whatever you do, if you want to succeed, you need to be prepared for it. This applies not only to your internal work, but also to your external work. This includes planning, acquiring the necessary skills, and connecting with the right people.
3. Adjust the plan, but not the goals. “When it becomes obvious that a goal cannot be achieved, do not change your goal, change your practical steps.”.
If you're starting to realize that you're not making progress toward your goal this year, it's a good time to make changes to your plan. Don't accept failure as an option, set your sails and calmly move towards your goal. If you don't see much results by doing the same thing every day, try doing something different, but don't change your goal, just find a different path to it.
4. All or nothing. “Wherever you are going, follow it with all your heart.”
Whatever you do, try to do it as much as possible, or don't do it at all. To succeed in life, it takes everything you can. Do the best you can and you will live without regrets.
5. Your environment determines your future. “Never befriend a man who is not better than himself.”
Your environment influences your values, goals and worldview. Your friends have a special influence on you because you trust them most.
6. Good things are expensive."It's easy to hate and hard to love. That's how our world works. Good things are hard to achieve, but bad things are very easy."
This explains a lot. It's quite easy to hate, to just be negative, to just make excuses. Love, forgiveness and wisdom require a big heart, a big mind and a lot of effort. None of us strives for something bad, at least for ourselves. Everyone wants a better fate for themselves, but how can you get there if you don't make an effort to be positive. Remember, your outside world is a reflection of your inner world.
7. Being offended is destructive."Being offended is nothing if you don't keep remembering it."
Don't let other people's misdeeds ruin your life. Don't let their negativity enter your mind and heart. Being offended is nothing if you agree to leave it in the past. Stay the course and allow other people to be themselves. Accept it. Keep moving no matter what.
8. Be aware of possible consequences."When anger arises, think about the consequences."
Solomon said: “He who knows how to restrain his anger is greater than the mighty.”. Try to keep your mood in check, keeping in mind the consequences. Anger will not lead to anything good; being angry, you stop thinking sensibly, which means you can do stupid things. Know how to restrain your emotions, especially negative ones, if you value the reputation and results that you have accumulated over the years. Be wiser.
But there is also "righteous anger", remember this too. It must be demonstrated in appropriate situations.
9. You can learn from everyone."If I walk with two other people, each of them, in some way, can be like a teacher to me. I will look for something good in them and imitate them in this, and something bad in order to correct it in myself ".
You can and should learn from every person you meet along the way. Be it a rogue or a holy man, you can take something useful from each. Every person's life story is filled with valuable lessons. Everyone can and should be grateful for something.
- Three paths lead to knowledge: the path of reflection is the noblest path, the path of imitation is the easiest path and the path of experience is the most bitter path.
- If you hate, it means you have been defeated.
- In a country where there is order, be bold in both actions and speeches. In a country where there is no order, be bold in your actions, but careful in your speech.
- Before you take revenge, dig two graves.
- Give instructions only to those who seek knowledge after discovering their ignorance.
- Happiness is when you are understood, great happiness is when you are loved, real happiness is when you love.
- In fact, life is simple, but we persistently complicate it.
- Intemperance in small things will ruin a great cause.
- Only when the cold weather arrives does it become clear that pines and cypresses are the last to lose their decoration.
- People in ancient times did not like to talk much. They considered it a shame for themselves not to keep up with their own words.
- We take advice in drops, but we give it out in buckets.
- A gemstone cannot be polished without friction. Likewise, a person cannot become successful without enough hard attempts.
- A noble man makes demands on himself, a low man makes demands on others.
- You can only overcome bad habits today, not tomorrow.
- Three things never come back - time, word, opportunity. Therefore: do not waste time, choose your words, do not miss the opportunity.
- Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a single day in your life.
- I don't get upset if people don't understand me, I get upset if I don't understand people.
- Try to be at least a little kinder, and you will see that you will not be able to commit a bad act.
- In ancient times, people studied in order to improve themselves. Nowadays people study in order to surprise others.
- You can curse the darkness all your life, or you can light a small candle.
- Misfortune came - man gave birth to him, happiness came - man raised him.
- There is beauty in everything, but not everyone can see it.
- A noble person is serene at heart. A low person is always preoccupied.
- If they spit in your back, it means you are ahead.
- He is not great who has never fallen, but he is great who has fallen and gotten up.
Confucius(real name - Kun Qiu) was an ordinary person, but his teaching is often called religion. Although issues of theology and theology as such are not important for Confucianism at all. All teaching is based on morality, ethics and life principles of human interaction with man.
He was one of the first to propose the idea of building a highly moral and harmonious society. And the golden rule of his ethics was: “Do not do to others what you do not wish for yourself.” His teaching found such a wide response among people that it was accepted as an ideological norm at the state level, and it remained popular for almost 20 centuries.
His lessons are easy for everyone to understand, which is probably why they inspire so effectively:
- Three paths lead to knowledge: the path of reflection is the noblest path, the path of imitation is the easiest path and the path of experience is the most bitter path.
- If you hate, it means you have been defeated.
- In a country where there is order, be bold in both actions and speeches. In a country where there is no order, be bold in your actions, but careful in your speech.
- Before you take revenge, dig two graves.
- Give instructions only to those who seek knowledge after discovering their ignorance.
- Happiness is when you are understood, great happiness is when you are loved, real happiness is when you love.
- In fact, life is simple, but we persistently complicate it.
- Intemperance in small things will ruin a great cause.
- Only when the cold weather arrives does it become clear that pines and cypresses are the last to lose their decoration.
- People in ancient times did not like to talk much. They considered it a shame for themselves not to keep up with their own words.
- We take advice in drops, but we give it out in buckets.
- A gemstone cannot be polished without friction. Likewise, a person cannot become successful without enough hard attempts.
- A noble man makes demands on himself, a low man makes demands on others.
- You can only overcome bad habits today, not tomorrow.
- Three things never come back - time, word, opportunity. Therefore: do not waste time, choose your words, do not miss the opportunity.
- Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a single day in your life.
- I don't get upset if people don't understand me, I get upset if I don't understand people.
- Try to be at least a little kinder, and you will see that you will not be able to commit a bad act.
- In ancient times, people studied in order to improve themselves. Nowadays people study in order to surprise others.
- You can curse the darkness all your life, or you can light a small candle.
- Misfortune came - man gave birth to him, happiness came - man raised him.
- There is beauty in everything, but not everyone can see it.
- A noble person is serene at heart. A low person is always preoccupied.
- If they spit in your back, it means you are ahead.
- He is not great who has never fallen, but he is great who has fallen and gotten up.
In different life situations, each of us needs good actionable tips. And it is correct if we receive them from reliable sources, such as the sayings of Confucius about man. This sage from China lived so long ago that his sayings seem outdated. But once you start reading the wise phrases of Confucius about life, it is immediately clear that everything is still relevant and listening to these words brings undoubted benefits.
What did the philosopher teach? His wisdom was multifaceted. It covered all aspects of a person’s life: he talked about the purpose of people’s existence, about friendship and love, how to look at the mistakes of one’s own and others, about happiness, about women and for women, revealed the secrets of raising children; work and attitude towards work occupied an important place in his teaching.
All these important life questions still concern us and our contemporaries. Therefore, we present the wittiest aphorisms and quotes of Confucius. The best collection that will become a guide to a happy, meaningful life.
Meaning of life
By improving oneself, a person approaches the age-old wisdom of his ancestors. People are ruled by passions and emotions. This is what interferes with making the right decisions, which leads to interesting consequences. Instead of striving for the best, they devote their lives to solving small issues.
The principle of Confucian teaching is to build a society of happy, unburdened by problems, the wisest people who wisely use their time and talents. They are in harmony between themselves and the Creator.
By reading the quotes of Confucius, you can radically change your life and attitude towards it for the better. Just a few simple and aphoristic expressions can have a beneficial effect on a person’s mood and outlook.
In fact, life is simple but we persistently complicate it. If you hate- it means you were defeated. We accept advice in drops, but we distribute it in buckets. Noble man makes demands on himself, a low person makes demands on others.Three things never come back back - time, word, opportunity. Therefore: do not waste time, choose your words, do not miss the opportunity.
Noble at heart serene. A low person is always preoccupied. If they spit in your back, that means you're ahead. Be hard on yourself and are gentle towards others. This way you will protect yourself from human hostility. When you feel bad- listen to nature. The silence of the world is more soothing than millions of unnecessary words.About the meaning of love and friendship
It seems that the Chinese thinker understood absolutely everything. Speaking about friendship, he showed how important it is to choose a friend in order to educate yourself, to set him as a model and cultivate in yourself only the greatest qualities: kindness and humility to imitate the best.
The eternal feeling of a loved and loving person gives strength, as Confucius' quotes about love say. Tenderness and affection help to overcome serious difficulties, even such as poverty. It is this quality that motivates us to strive for well-being. It also gives true joy.
I don't understand how anyone can deal with a person who can't be trusted? If a cart doesn't have an axle, how can you ride it?
When meeting a worthy person think about how to match him. When dating a low person, take a closer look at yourself and judge yourself. Even in the company of two people I will certainly find, what to learn from them. I will try to imitate their virtues, and I myself will learn from their shortcomings. If someone wants to seriously offend you, that means it's even worse for him. When people are together- no matter where their bodies are.How to Look at Errors
We all make mistakes. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive the mistakes of others. But are we ready to forgive ourselves? Maybe it’s better not to dwell on miscalculations, because these are trifles that mean little or nothing at all? It’s worth moving on!
From the philosophical position of the great thinker, any mistake is an experience that people acquire while they live. Should we be afraid to become wiser by getting out of a difficult situation? On the contrary, the ancient founder of the great teaching showed that the most correct solution is to correct everything.
About happiness and goodness
Did Confucius skip the topic of happiness? No. After all, this is the ultimate goal to which every person should strive. His best quotes are dedicated to the search for harmony in the soul. It is impossible not to agree with the formula about happiness that the philosopher derived. No one has ever spoken so simply and accurately about what makes us all truly happy. Such a short path must be taken to achieve what you want, if you follow one of the author’s most striking expressions: find those you love and who will love and understand you. Happiness is when you are understood, great happiness is when you are loved, real happiness is when you love. The one who has the sun shining in his soul, will see the sun even on the gloomiest day. The Pursuit of Happyness sometimes you just need to stop and be happy. Seeing good in front of you, I run forward as if I'm afraid to fall behind. Seeing evil in front of me, I run away as if I had stepped foot into boiling water. Work on clearing your thoughts. If you don't have bad thoughts, you won't have bad actions. Forget grievances but never forget kindness. It's easier to light one small candle than to curse the darkness. Try to be at least a little kinder and you will see that you will not be able to commit a bad act.
About women
It would seem that Confucius's comments on women do not reveal his respect for the weaker sex. He seems to laugh at them and their abilities, reproaches them for stupidity and gives them too small and insignificant a role in society.And at the same time, his concepts of harmony say that a person, whether a man or a woman, can achieve perfection. He has rights and deserves to be happy in his pursuit of excellence. You just need to determine your role in society and follow it.
Build relationships correctly It's hardest with women and low people. If you bring them closer to you, they will become untied; if you move them away from you, they will hate you. Once upon a time, a very educated lady at that time came to visit Confucius. and asked him a question:- Tell me, Confucius, why is it that when a woman has many lovers, she is subjected to public censure, but when a man has many women, then this is normal?
Before answering, Confucius silently brewed tea and poured it into six cups.
“Tell me,” he asked her after that, “when one teapot pours tea leaves into six cups, is this normal?”
“Yes,” the woman answered.
“You see,” answered Confucius, “and when six teapots are poured into one cup at once?...
About training and attitude to work
It would probably be correct to consider Confucius one of the famous teachers. At one time, he sought to introduce reforms into the education system. Comparing, and sometimes extolling, knowledge over material support, he called for education to give importance not only to the fundamentals of science, but also to moral laws. And in education, the main goal is to teach children to be useful members of society, fitting into its canons of striving for the best. He instilled this in his students as well. But it would be informative for each of us to get acquainted with the theory of the great man, the founder of the doctrine, which is given the same great importance as religion. Choose a job you like, and you will never have to work a single day in your life. When it is obvious that the goal is unattainable, don't change the goal - change your action plan. Whatever you do in life, do it with all your heart. A gemstone cannot be polished without friction. Likewise, a person cannot become successful without enough hard attempts. Run among those standing, among those running - stop. In ancient times, people studied in order to to improve yourself. Nowadays people study in order to surprise others.Each quote from the sage seems to glow with the original aura that hovered over Ancient China. And at the same time, all his words are so close to us, modern people. This is especially noticeable from the words about work.
What is the secret of fruitful work? What does a job that suits your soul give a person? The scientist gave very accurate and relevant answers to these questions at all times, which are useful to know. And we offer the opportunity to both read the aphorisms of Confucius on the site and download them for free to use and forward wise advice to friends.
