Confucius

While you are not able to serve men, how can you serve spirits [of the dead]?...While you do not know life, how can you know about death?

Confucius

There are three things which the superior man guards against. In youth...lust. When he is strong...quarrelsomeness. When he is old...covetousness.

Confucius

The cautious seldom err.

Confucius

He with whom neither slander that gradually soaks into the mind, nor statements that startle like a wound in the flesh, are successful may be called intelligent indeed.

Confucius

Have no friends not equal to yourself.

Confucius

When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.

Confucius

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

Confucius

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.

Confucius

Study the past if you would define the future.

Confucius

Respect yourself and others will respect you.

Confucius

Men's natures are alike, it is their habits that carry them far apart.

Confucius

Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star.

Confucius