Confucius Quotes

When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points.

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

When you see a good man, try to emulate his example, and when you see a bad man, search yourself for his faults.

Search others for their virtue, and yourself for your vices.

I try to be a good person. I know what my downfalls are, so that's a good thing.

Good actions ennoble us, and we are the sons of our deeds.

In my heart, I know I haven't been the best person, the best quarterback for the Steelers, I'm not talking just on the field, I'm talking off the field.

When you see a worthy person, endeavor to emulate him. When you see an unworthy person, then examine your inner self.

To know what virtue is is not enough; we must endeavor to possess and to practice it, or in some other manner actually ourselves to become good.

Keep doing good deeds long enough, and you'll probably turn out a good man in spite of yourself.

Therefore the superior man is watchful over himself, when he is alone.

The failure to cultivate virtue, the failure to examine and analyze what I have learned, the inability to move toward righteousness after being shown the way, the inability to correct my faults-these are the causes of my grief.

To be good, we must do good; and by doing good we take a sure means of being good, as the use and exercise of the muscles increase their power.

Respect for self is the beginning of cultivating virtue in men and women.

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

I take it to be from the greatest extremes, both in virtue and in vice, that the uniformly virtuous and reformed in life can derive the greatest and most salutary truths and impressions.

What, pray, does it profit a man to teach others, and to be prating always about virtue, in high-sounding words, if he fails to give heed to his own instructions?

The superior man... does not set his mind either for or against anything, he will pursue whatever is right. The superior man thinks of virtue, the common man of comfort.

I am not a very good man, Effie, but I think that I am a better one than you have given me credit for being.

I think we all need to be looking to the better angels of our own selves. We don't need to be looking for great people so much as becoming great people.

It is not enough merely possess virtue, as if it were an art; it should be practiced.

Never stop working on your statue until the divine glory of virtue shines out on you, until you see self-mastery enthroned upon its holy seat.

Find a teacher who is an integral being, a beacon who extends his light and virtue with equal ease to those who appreciate him and those who don't. Shape yourself in his mold, bathe in his nourishing radiance, and reflect it out to the rest of the world.

To many people virtue consists chiefly in repenting faults, not in avoiding them.

It is easier to enrich ourselves with a thousand virtues, than to correct ourselves of a single fault.