Confucius on Discipline Quotes

"To be poor without murmuring is difficult. To be rich without being proud is easy."

"If a man should be able to rule himself, what difficulty will he have in serving the state?"

"The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not know him."

"The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort."

"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."

"He who is master of his own spirit is greater than he who takes a city."

"A youth, when at home, should be filial, and, abroad, respectful to his elders."

"Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others."

"Without an acquaintance with the rules of propriety, it is impossible for the character to be established."

"To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short."

"The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions."

"By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart."

"He who is puffed up with pride will not be able to preserve his reputation."

"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones."

"A man who has committed a mistake and doesn't correct it is committing another mistake."

"He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior."

"The cautious seldom err."

"To be able under all circumstances to practice five things constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness."

"He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good."

"Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous."

"When internal examination discovers nothing wrong, what is there to be anxious about? What is there to fear?"

"In the practice of the rules of propriety, a natural ease is to be prized. In the ways prescribed by the ancient kings, this is the course of beauty: the small and the great follow it."

"In all things success depends on previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure."

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

"A man should say, 'I am not concerned that I have no place, I am concerned how I may fit myself for one.'"

"The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools."

"The superior man thinks of virtue; the small man thinks of comfort."

"When anger rises, think of the consequences."

"The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his actions."

"Extravagance leads to insubordination, and parsimony to meanness. It is better to be mean than to be insubordinate."

"Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves."

"The scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar."

"Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure."