Confucius Quotes: 15 Sourced Quotations, Explained

A man without humaneness, what has he to do with the rites? A man without humaneness, what has he to do with music?

Analects, III, 3

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At seventy, I could follow my heart's desire without overstepping the line.

Analects, II.4

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By nature men are close to one another; through practice they grow far apart.

Analects, XVII, 2

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Each day I examine myself on three points: have I been faithful in acting for others, sincere with my friends, and have I practised what was taught to me?

Analects, I, 4

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He who governs by virtue may be compared to the pole star, which keeps its place while all the other stars turn toward it.

Analects (Lunyu), 2.1

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He who revives the old to understand the new is fit to be a teacher.

Analects, II, 11

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I transmit and do not create; I love the Ancients and trust them.

Analects, VII, 1

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If names are not correct, language is not in accord with the truth of things; then affairs cannot succeed.

Analects, XIII, 3

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Is humaneness far off? No sooner do I desire it than it is here.

Analects, VII.29

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Lead the people by virtue, keep them in order by the rites, and they will have a sense of shame and come to you.

Analects, II, 3

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Learning without thought is labour lost; thought without learning is perilous.

Analects, II, 15

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The noble person seeks it in himself; the small person seeks it in others.

Analects (Lunyu), 15.21

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To master oneself and return to the rites: that is humaneness (ren).

Analects, XII, 1

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Uprightness lies in this: the father screens his son, and the son screens his father.

Analects, XIII, 18

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What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others.

Analects, XV, 24

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