Confucius

The young should be dutiful at home, modest abroad, careful and true, overflowing in kindness for all, but in brotherhood with love. And if they have strength to spare they should spend it on the arts.

Confucius

Their persons being cultivated, their families were regulated. Their family being regulated, their states were rightly governed. Their states being rightly governed, the whole kingdom was made tranquil and happy.

Confucius

There are cases in which the blade springs, but the plant does not go on to flower! There are cases where it flowers, but no fruit is subsequently produced!

Confucius

There are not the weeds the ones that drown the good seed, but the negligence of the peasant.

Confucius

There are those men who say to repay evil with kindness. But I say, how then are we to repay kindness? Repay kindness with kindness, but repay evil with justice.

Confucius

There are those who act without knowing; I will have none of this. To hear a lot, choose the good, and follow it, to see a lot and learn to recognize it: this is next knowledge.

Confucius

There are three things to beware of through life: when a man is young, let him beware of his appetites; when he is middle-aged, of his passions; and when old, of covetousness, especially.

Confucius

There has never been a man mean and at the same time virtuous.

Confucius

There is nothing more real than what cannot be seen and there is nothing more certain than what cannot be heard.

Confucius

There is nothing more visible than what is secret, and nothing more manifest than what is minute.

Confucius