Some memorable Confucius quotes

Confucius was a sage whose teaching gave direction to the great Chinese people for almost 2500 years. He lived and died about 500 years before the Christian era and his philosophy reigned supreme amongst the Chinese until the early 20th century. It was only then because of contact with the Europeans and the westernised Japanese that the system began to break down.

While reading Confucius do not read him as you would a novel or any other book from cover to cover without stopping. His sayings are meant to be pondered over, contemplated, chewed and digested. Only then will you get nourishment from them.

Ask yourself as you read these quotes by Confucius whether you agree with them. If so then what are the reason and if not then what are the reasons. Ask yourself what meaning do these Confucius quotations carry and what message he was trying to impart. And if you agree what are the implications for you and the way you lead your life.

No doubt you will find other ways to critically examine and understand these Confucius sayings.

These Confucius quotes have been sourced from The Essential Confucius by Thomas Cleary available at Amazon.

Here then are some Confucius quotes:

A certain disciple was sleeping in the daytime.

Confucius said, “Rotten wood cannot be sculpted, a manure wall cannot be plastered. What admonition is there for me to give.”

(Personally I think Confucius was being too harsh. I frequently enjoy an afternoon nap.)

Confucius said, “Good people should be slow to speak but quick to act.”

Another memorable Confucius saying:

A disciple asked Confucius, “Do cultivated people value courage.”

Confucius say, “Cultivated people consider justice foremost. When cultivated people have courage without justice they become rebellious. When petty people have courage without justice they become brigands.”

Confucius stressed justice. He was moderate in all things even virtue. Here then is another profound Confucius quotations:

A disciple asked Confucius, “How do you regard the principle of returning good for evil.”

Confucius says, “What then would be the return of good? Rather you should return justice for injustice and good for good.”

Another few Confucius quotes:

“To eat your fill and not apply your mind to anything all day is a problem. Are there no games to play? Even that would be smarter than doing nothing.”

Confucius say, “The knowing enjoy water, the humane enjoy mountains. The knowing are diligent, the humane are quiet. The knowing are happy, the humane are long lived.”

When at ease Confucius was relaxed and genial:

Confucius says, “Even if my fare is plain and my lifestyle austere I still find pleasure in them. Riches and status unjustly attained are to me like floating clouds.”

In short good people enjoy life.

Another of the Confucius quotes:

A certain elder statesman of Lu was said to act after reflecting three times. When Confucius heard of this he said, “Reflecting twice will do.”

Confucius said, “People who do not think far enough ahead inevitably have worries near at hand.

A disciple asked Confucius about exemplary people.

Confucius say, “Apply their words before following them.

Confucius quotes
Confucius