Confucius on Stoicism Quotes

"When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves."

"The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue."

"I am not concerned that I am not known, I am concerned that I do not know others."

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

"The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first business, and success only a subsequent consideration."

"He who is of a calm and happy nature will hardly feel the pressure of age, but to him who is of an opposite disposition, youth and age are equally a burden."

"To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage."

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

"The superior man is satisfied and composed; the mean man is always full of distress."

"What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the mean man seeks is in others."

"If a man take no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand."

"The cautious seldom err."

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

"Silence is a true friend who never betrays."

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

"Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness."

"Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage."

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

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

"The superior man, in the world, does not set his mind either for anything, or against anything; what is right he will follow."

"A man of virtue will be sure to possess also a right words; but a man of words will not necessarily be a man of virtue."

"I will not be afflicted at men's not knowing me; I will be afflicted that I do not know men."

"At fifteen, I had my mind bent on learning. At thirty, I stood firm. At forty, I had no doubts. At fifty, I knew the decrees of Heaven."

"The superior man is broad-minded and no partisan. The mean man is a partisan and not broad-minded."

"Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors."

"If the will be set on virtue, there will be no practice of wickedness."

"Riches and honors are what men desire. If they cannot be obtained in the proper way, they should not be held."

"Poverty and meanness are what men dislike. If they cannot be avoided in the proper way, they should not be avoided."

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

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

"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it."

"Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without."

"To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge."