Confucius: Man

Confucius was Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher. Explore interesting quotes on man.

Confucius: 538 quotes101 likes

“The Man who says he can, and the man who says he can not.. Are both correct”

“The nobler sort of man emphasizes the good qualities in others, and does not accentuate the bad. The inferior does.”

“The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”

James Legge translation.
Variant translations: The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his actions.
The greater man does not boast of himself, But does what he must do.
A good man does not give orders, but leads by example.
The Analects, Chapter I, Chapter IV

“The Master said, “The gentleman understands what is right, whereas the petty man understands profit.”
(Analects 4.16)”

“A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace.”

“The Superior Man is aware of Righteousness, the inferior man is aware of advantage.”

The virtuous man is driven by responsibility, the non-virtuous man is driven by profit. [by 朱冀平]
The Analects, Chapter I, Chapter IV

“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”

Source: The Analects

“A man of humanity is one who, in seeking to establish himself, finds a foothold for others and who, in desiring attaining himself, helps others to attain.”

“A man without a mustache is a man without a soul.”

“The superior man has a dignified ease without pride. The mean man has pride without a dignified ease.”

Source: The Analects of Confucius

“Virtue (or the man of virtue) is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.”

Source: The Analects, Chapter IV

“He who flatters a man is his enemy. he who tells him of his faults is his maker.”

“Not to discuss with a man worthy of conversation is to waste the man. To discuss with a man not worthy of conversation is to waste words. The wise waste neither men nor words.”

Source: The Analects

“A superior man in dealing with the world is not for anything or against anything. He follows righteousness as the standard.”

“A man without persistence will never make a good shaman or a good physician.”

“The superior man, while there is anything he has not studied, or while in what he has studied there is anything he cannot understand, Will not intermit his labor. While there is anything he has not inquired about, or anything in what he has inquired about which he does not know, he will not intermit his labor. While there is anything which he has not reflected on, or anything in what he has reflected on which he does not apprehend, he will not intermit his labor. While there is anything which he has not discriminated or his discrimination is not clear, he will not intermit his labor. If there be anything which he has not practiced, or his practice fails in earnestness, he will not intermit his labor. If another man succeed by one effort, he will use a hundred efforts. If another man succeed by ten efforts, he will use a thousand. Let a man proceed in this way, and, though dull, he will surely become intelligent; though weak, he will surely become strong.”

Source: The Doctrine of the Mean

“It is said in the Book of Poetry, "In silence is the offering presented, and the spirit approached to; there is not the slightest contention." Therefore the superior man does not use rewards, and the people are stimulated to virtue. He does not show anger, and the people are awed more than by hatchets and battle-axes.”

Source: The Doctrine of the Mean

“The Path is not far from man. When men try to pursue a course, which is far from the common indications of consciousness, this course cannot be considered The Path.”

Source: The Doctrine of the Mean

“The way of the superior man may be found, in its simple elements, in the intercourse of common men and women; but in its utmost reaches, it shines brightly through Heaven and Earth.”

Source: The Doctrine of the Mean

“The superior man honors his virtuous nature, and maintains constant inquiry and study, seeking to carry it out to its breadth and greatness, so as to omit none of the more exquisite and minute points which it embraces, and to raise it to its greatest height and brilliancy, so as to pursue the course of the Mean. He cherishes his old knowledge, and is continually acquiring new. He exerts an honest, generous earnestness, in the esteem and practice of all propriety. Thus, when occupying a high situation he is not proud, and in a low situation he is not insubordinate. When the kingdom is well governed, he is sure by his words to rise; and when it is ill governed, he is sure by his silence to command forbearance to himself.”

Source: The Doctrine of the Mean