It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get.
It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.
By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.
It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.
When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.
The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.
The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.
Heaven means to be one with God.
Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.
Silence is a true friend who never betrays.
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.
If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.
Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.
Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.
Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.
It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.
If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?
Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.
Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.
Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
Wherever you go, go with all your heart.
The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.
Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?
The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.
A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.
If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.
An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.
When you know a thing, to hold that you know it, and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it – this is knowledge.
To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness.
I want you to be everything that’s you, deep at the center of your being.
I will not be concerned at other men’s not knowing me;I will be concerned at my own want of ability.
The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability that he has.
We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression.
To see the right and not to do it is cowardice.
You cannot open a book without learning something.
To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.
Study the past, if you would divine the future.
Never give a sword to a man who can’t dance.
When anger rises, think of the consequences.
What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.
The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.
I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand.
The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.
To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage, or of principle.
There are three methods to gaining wisdom. The first is reflection, which is the highest. The second is limitation, which is the easiest. The third is experience, which is the bitterest.
Instead of being concerned that you have no office, be concerned to think how you may fit yourself for office. Instead of being concerned that you are not known, seek to be worthy of being known.
Speak the truth, do not yield to anger; give, if thou art asked for little; by these three steps thou wilt go near the gods.
He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.
The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.
The faults of a superior person are like the sun and moon. They have their faults, and everyone sees them; they change and everyone looks up to them.
Look at the means which a man employs, consider his motives, observe his pleasures. A man simply cannot conceal himself!
They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.
To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.
Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.
Ability will never catch up with the demand for it.
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.
The cautious seldom err.
A gentleman would be ashamed should his deeds not match his words.
The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest; success only comes later.
The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.
If we don’t know life, how can we know death?
Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honors depend upon heaven.
Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.
Virtuous people often revenge themselves for the constraints to which they submit by the boredom which they inspire.
Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.
Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.
When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself.
Old age, believe me, is a good and pleasant thing. It is true you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator.
Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs.
The object of the superior man is truth.
The book salesman should be honored because he brings to our attention, as a rule, the very books we need most and neglect most.
To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.
“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”
“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
“Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.”
“He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.”
“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
“If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.”
“Study the past if you would define the future.”
“The funniest people are the saddest ones”
“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”
“To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it.”
“Respect yourself and others will respect you.”
“The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.”
“You cannot open a book without learning something.”
“Silence is a true friend who never betrays.”
“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.”
“Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.”
“What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.”
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”
“The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat.”
“Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.”
“Give a bowl of rice to a man and you will feed him for a day. Teach him how to grow his own rice and you will save his life.”
“The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.”
“The way out is through the door. Why is it that no one will use this method?”
“It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.”
“The man of wisdom is never of two minds;
the man of benevolence never worries;
the man of courage is never afraid.”
“Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.”
“It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.”
“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”
“And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.”
“Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.”
“If what one has to say is not better than silence, then one should keep silent.”
“We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.”
“Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.”
“Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.”
“To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order; we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.”
“When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”
“To be wealthy and honored in an unjust society is a disgrace.”
“If your plan is for one year plant rice. If your plan is for ten years plant trees. If your plan is for one hundred years educate children. ”
“Don’t do unto others what you don’t want done unto you.”
“Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.”
“In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.”
“To see what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice.”
“The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their proper name.”
“Time flows away like the water in the river. ”
“The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.”
“When a wise man points at the moon the imbecile examines the finger.”
“Don’t complain about the snow on your neighbor’s roof when your own doorstep is unclean.”
“It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get.”
“Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know more.”
“The Master said, “A true gentleman is one who has set his heart upon the Way. A fellow who is ashamed merely of shabby clothing or modest meals is not even worth conversing with.”
“Learning without thought is labour lost; thought without learning is perilous.”
“Consideration for others is the basis of a good life, a good society.”
“Tzu Chang asked Confucius about jen. Confucius said, “If you can practice these five things with all the people, you can be called jen.”
“Have no friends not equal to yourself.”
“The Man who says he can, and the man who says he can not.. Are both correct”
“Never give a sword to a man who can’t dance.”
“The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”
“The nobler sort of man emphasizes the good qualities in others, and does not accentuate the bad. The inferior does.”
“The noble-minded are calm and steady. Little people are forever fussing and fretting.”
“roads were made for journeys not destinations”
“The Master said, “If your conduct is determined solely by considerations of profit you will arouse great resentment.”
“He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.”
“The Master said, “A true teacher is one who, keeping the past alive, is also able to understand the present.”
“Worry not that no one knows you; seek to be worth knowing.”
“The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.”
“The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”
“A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace.”
“Those who know the TRUTH are not equal to those who love it.”
“By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.”
“Behind every smile there’s teeth.”
“The Master said, “The gentleman understands what is right, whereas the petty man understands profit.”
“He Who Knows And Knows That He Knows Is A Wise Man – Follow Him;
He Who Knows Not And Knows Not That He Knows Not Is A Fool – Shun Him”
“When the wind blows,the grass bends.”
“If one should desire to know whether a kingdom is well governed, if its morals are good or bad, the quality of its music will furnish the answer.”
“Knowledge is merely brilliance in organization of ideas and not wisdom. The truly wise person goes beyond knowledge.”
“Settle one difficulty, and you keep a hundred away.”
“No lake so still but it has its wave.
No circle so perfect but that it has its blur.
I would change things for you if I could; As I can’t you must take them as they are.”
“If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?”
“Fix your mind on truth, hold firm to virtue, rely on loving kindness, and find your recreation in the Arts.”
“The green reed which bends in the wind is stronger than the mighty oak which breaks in a storm.”
“Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon or star.”
“The way of the superior person is threefold; virtuous, they are free from anxieties; wise they are free from perplexities; and bold they are free from fear.”
“Learn as if you were not reaching your goal and as though you were scared of missing it”
“You will never know how sharp a sword is unless it’s drawn from its sheath”
“Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself. ”
“If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.”
“Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.”
“A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do we know that his future will not be equal to our present?”
“Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.”
“The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does not forget that disorder may come. Thus his person is not endangered, and his States and all their clans are preserved.”
“One joy dispels a hundred cares.”
“If there were one word that could act as a standard of conduct for one’s entire life, perhaps it would be ‘thoughtfulness.”
“The scholar does not consider gold and jade to be precious treasures, but loyalty and good faith.”
“If you don’t want to do something,don’t impose on 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.”
“We take greater pains to persuade others that we are happy than in endeavoring to think so ourselves”
“Lead the people with administrative injunctions and put them in their place with penal law, and they will avoid punishments but will be without a sense of shame. Lead them with excellence and put them in their place through roles and ritual practices, and in addition to developing a sense of shame, they will order themselves harmoniously”
“The Essence of Knowledge is, having it, to use it.”