Confucius Quotes

You have to give the Ballon d'Or to the best player in the world at that time. Any differences between what the players are like as individuals should not affect who is chosen for a personal award.

In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate-look to his character.

In the field of sports you are more or less accepted for what you do rather than what you are.

I believe that no man who holds a leader's position should ever accept favors from either side. He is then committed to show favors. A leader must stand alone.

You don't need to know someone personally to be able to discern whether their work is high quality or not. The idea of a meritocracy is that it's what they do, not who they are.

Elect me for what I am, not for what I was born.

Democracy should not work on the basis of personalities.

I accept a character purely based on its merits and not on any other criteria.

I appreciate good work no matter where it's coming from.

You see, among men who are honored with the common appellation ogentleman, many contradictions to that character.

I'll do business with anyone, but I'll only go sailing with gentlemen.

I pride myself in recognizing and upholding ability in every party and wherever I meet it.

Have you ever met a man of good character where women are concerned?

Never exalt people because they're in your family; never exalt people because they're your color; never exalt people because they're your kinfolk. Exalt them because they're worthy.

The first requisite of a gentleman is to be true, brave and noble, and to be therefore a rebuke and scandal to venal and vulgar souls.

Careless of censure, nor too fond of fame, Still pleased to praise, yet not afraid to blame, Averse alike to flatter or offend, Not free from faults, nor yet too vain to mend.

The only equitable manner in my opinion, of judging the character of a man is to examine if there are personal calculations in his conduct; if there are not, we may blame his manner of judging, but we are not the less bound to esteem him.

A man of abilities and character, of any sect whatever, may be admitted to any office of public trust under the United States.

Persons in great stations have seldom their true character drawn till several years after their death. Their personal friendships and enmities must cease, and the parties they were engaged in be at an end, before their faults or their virtues can have justice done them. When writers have the least opportunities of knowing the truth, they are in the best disposition to tell it.

No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment.

Believe me, there exists no such dilemma as that in which a gentleman is placed when he is forced to reply to a blackguard.

The idea of hereditary legislators is as inconsistent as that of hereditary judges, or hereditary juries; and as absurd as an hereditary mathematician, or an hereditary wise man; and as ridiculous as an hereditary poet-laureat.

Worthy things happen to the worthy.

I have always found that the man whose second thoughts are good is worth watching.