Humanity has always sought an answer to an important question: “What is the meaning of existence?” If Western thinkers approached it rationally, then Eastern sages looked for the answer in the soul and heart. The Chinese philosopher Confucius, whose quotes represent a special moral and ethical ideal of life, brought humanity closer to understanding the essence of existence. Discover it for yourself.
Wise words about life have always been a guiding thread for a person that led to success, happiness and self-realization. Wise sayings They open up new facets of existence, point out true values, and help to understand how happy a person is at different moments in life.
Modern man lives with a clouded mind, in the rush of days he does not have the opportunity to think about what is truly valuable in life. Quotes from the greats are the quintessence of life guidelines.
Could Confucius (Kun Qiu) have thought that twenty centuries later everything he said about life, the world order, and the principles of interaction between people in society would still be relevant.
If you are confused, have difficulties in life, or are looking for spiritual support, then Confucius’ quotes will help you find peace of mind and determine life goals and values. Here wise quotes about life, gleaned from his teachings:
“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”;
“Before you take revenge, dig two graves”;
“Give instructions only to those who seek knowledge after revealing their ignorance”;
“Happiness is when you are understood, great happiness is when you are loved, real happiness is when you love”;
"In fact easy life, but we persistently complicate it”;
“Intemperance in small things will ruin a great cause”;
“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 a sufficient number of difficult 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: don’t waste time, choose your words, don’t 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 they 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 it, happiness came - man raised it”;
“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 never fell, but he is great who fell and got up”;
“Never tell anything good or bad about yourself. In the first case, they won’t believe you, but in the second, they will embellish you”;
“When it is obvious that a goal is unattainable, do not change the goal - change your plan of action”;
“You can’t regret anything in this life. It happened - draw a conclusion and move on with your life”;
"Visit and listen evil people- this is already the beginning of an evil deed”;
“When you feel bad, listen to nature. The silence of the world is more soothing than millions of unnecessary words”;
"Silence - true friend who will never change”;
“He who does not think about distant difficulties will certainly face near troubles.”
Wise sayings of Confucius will help you find peace of mind. Rate smart sayings great thinker, find with their help a foothold and life guidelines.
In different life situations each of us needs good acting 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 wise phrases Confucius about life, and 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 are important life questions and now concern us and our contemporaries. Therefore, we present the wittiest aphorisms and quotes of Confucius. The best collection that will become a guide to happy life with meaning.
By improving oneself, a person approaches the age-old wisdom of his ancestors. People are ruled by passions and emotions. This is what hinders acceptance 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 being loved and loving person give 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.
The attraction of hearts gives birth to friendship, the attraction of the mind is respect, the attraction of bodies is passion, and only all three together give birth to love.
Love is the spice of life. It may sweeten it, or it may oversalt it.
You can curse the darkness all your life, Or you can light a small candle.
There is beauty in everything, but not everyone can see it.
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.
The man who made a mistake and did not correct it, he made another mistake.
Admit your shortcomings when we are reproached for them - this is modesty, to reveal them to our friends is innocence, gullibility, but to expose them in front of everyone is pride.
Incontinence in small things will ruin a great cause.
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.
Don't do that to someone else what you wouldn’t wish for yourself.
Never talk about yourself neither good nor bad. In the first case, they won’t believe you, and in the second, they will embellish it.
A noble husband looks for the reasons for his failures in himself, and a vile person looks for them in others.
Overcome bad habits You can only do it today, not tomorrow.
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 just 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 teacher. At one time, he sought to introduce reforms into the education system. Comparing, and sometimes extolling, knowledge over material support, he called for teaching not only the fundamentals of science, but also giving moral laws important. 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.
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.
I hear and forget. I see and remember. I do and understand.
Archery teaches us how to search for the truth. When a shooter misses, he does not blame others, but looks for the blame in himself.
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.
Not the great one who has never fallen, and is great - who has fallen and stood up.
Quotes from Confucius about work and education, about the state are collected in this article.
Confucius quotes about work
Find a job you love and you'll never have to work another day in your life.
Work on clearing your thoughts. If you don't have bad thoughts, you won't have bad actions.
Confucius: quotes on upbringing and education
In ancient times, people studied in order to improve themselves. Nowadays they study in order to surprise others.
Study as if you cannot gain and as if you are afraid of losing.
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.
Learning without reflection is useless, but reflection without learning is also dangerous.
To control oneself so much as to respect others as oneself, and to do with them as we wish to be treated with us - this is what can be called the doctrine of philanthropy.
Study as if you constantly feel the lack of your knowledge, and as if you are constantly afraid of losing your knowledge.
A gemstone cannot be polished without friction. Likewise, a person cannot become successful without enough hard attempts.
There are three mistakes in human communication: the first is the desire to speak before you need to; the second is shyness, not speaking when necessary; the third is to speak without watching your listener.
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.
Quotes from Confucius on State and Society
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.
(It is a shame to be poor and to occupy a low position when law reigns in the state; it is equally shameful to be rich and noble when lawlessness reigns in the state.)
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.
« When property is concentrated in one hand- the people disperse. When property is distributed, the people unite.”
Just as there cannot be two suns in the sky, so a people cannot have two rulers!
WITH The relationship between the ruler and the people is as follows: the emperor is the “horseman”, officials and laws are the “bridle” and “reins”, the people are the “horse”. To control horses well, you need to bridle them correctly, you need to hold the reins and incentive evenly, you need to balance the strength of the horses and watch the latter run in agreement; under these conditions, the ruler does not have to make a single sound, does not clap the reins at all and does not incite with a stimulus - the horses will run by themselves.
In this article we have selected for you 25 sayings of Confucius about life, love and happiness - the Chinese Sage, ordinary person, whose teachings are today compared to religion, although it is not one. Gain wisdom now!
Sayings of Confucius about life
If you hate, it means you have been defeated.
It doesn't matter how slowly you walk as long as you don't stop.
Don't worry about changes. They usually come at the moment when it is needed.
It is not the great one who never fell, but the one who fell and was able to get up one more time.
If they spit in your back, it means that you are ahead.
A noble person is serene at heart. A low person is always preoccupied.
You can curse the darkness all your life, or you can light a small candle.
In ancient times, people studied in order to improve themselves. Nowadays people study in order to surprise others.
I don't get upset if people don't understand me, I get upset if I don't understand people.
3 things never come back - time, word, opportunity. Therefore: do not waste time, choose your words, do not miss the opportunity.
You can only overcome bad habits today, not tomorrow.
A noble man makes demands on himself, a low man makes demands on others.
A gemstone cannot be polished without friction. Likewise, a person cannot become successful without enough hard attempts.
We take advice in drops, but we give it out in buckets.
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.
Only when the cold weather arrives does it become clear that pines and cypresses are the last to lose their decoration.
Intemperance in small things will ruin a great cause.
In fact, life is simple, but we persistently complicate it.
Give instructions only to those who seek knowledge after discovering their ignorance.
Before you take revenge, dig two graves.
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.
Three paths lead to knowledge: way of thinking- this is the noblest path, path of imitation- this is the easiest way and path of experience- this is the most bitter path.
Sayings of Confucius about happiness and love
There is beauty in everything, but not everyone can see it.
Misfortune came - man gave birth to him, happiness came - man raised him
Try to be at least a little kinder, and you will see that you will not be able to commit a bad act.
Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a single day in your life.
Happiness- this is when they understand you, great happiness- this is when you are loved, real happiness- this is when you love.
What other sayings of Confucius do you know?
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 carry out comparative characteristics 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 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 of having 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 will be a savage, and if education overshadows nature, the result will be 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.