Confucius' expression about happiness. Wise sayings of Confucius: quotes, aphorisms and their meaning




The most accessible life lessons for a person to understand. They inspire people very effectively. Human-human interactions are built on important life principles that many try to adhere to. Many sages expressed their rules of life, the eastern countries were especially famous for this. Many people are familiar with the name of the famous Chinese thinker Confucius. Sayings, wise aphorisms and quotes from geniuses fill the pages of books and websites.

This man created an entire doctrine, which is also called religion - Confucianism. Morals, ethics and principles of life are inherent in this teaching. Quotes, aphorisms and wise sayings of Confucius indicate that the sage dreamed of building a harmonious and highly moral society. The golden rule of his ethics was: “Do not do to others what you do not wish for yourself.” People perceive the aphorisms and sayings of Confucius very sensitively. The teaching of genius has been popular for 20 centuries. Get to know this legendary figure, the sayings of Confucius and their explanation.

The Long Road to Wisdom

Sometimes they shout to a person with special mental abilities: “You’re like Confucius!” The sayings of the Chinese sage make you touch the origins of his wisdom and reread his aphoristic sayings. Is there some centuries-old secret of Eastern wisdom, is it different from the usual Western one? In the course of our analysis of the sayings of Confucius, this will become clear to you.

Where did the origins of the wisdom of the Chinese genius come from? Let's start a little with the childhood of a teacher from the Kun family or Kung Fu Tzu, as he was called in his homeland in China. The name Confucius is considered to be a Latinized form. The teacher lived from 551 to 479 BC. e. Many of the sayings of Chinese Confucius have survived to this day, thanks to the retellings and recordings of later interpreters and students.

The sage was born in the village of Qufu, in Shandong province. He belongs to an ancient aristocratic, albeit impoverished, family. His father married three times in order to obtain a worthy heir. This is exactly what the future thinker became. And although the father died three years later, the mother gave her son a highly moral upbringing. In many ways, the formation of Confucius’s ideas about an ideal society and a harmonious person is due to the pure spiritual qualities of this highly moral woman.

The absence of his father in the house forced the young man to work early. He educated himself and searched for the truth. He learned to read early and tried to comprehend all the lines he learned. In Confucius's statements about work and life, one can feel the fusion of thoughts of his worthy predecessors. He worked as a caretaker of warehouses and state lands. But this position did not bring him satisfaction. At the age of 22, the young man became a private Chinese teacher. Having already become a sought-after specialist, he began to teach children from different segments of the population, without paying attention to their well-being.

In communication with people, in the wanderings of the sage, Confucius’s wittiest sayings about man were born. This led him to receive the prestigious position of Minister of Justice. Here he had envious people and slanderers who contributed to the expulsion of the minister from his native land. Confucius began to travel and preach. He went on this pilgrimage for 13 years. In all corners of China, wise sayings of Confucius about creativity, family, and relationships between people were heard.

Returning to his native land, the thinker began to engage in teaching activities. By the end of his life he had trained about three thousand people. Philosophy became the basis of his postulates. Biographers even claim that the Teacher knew the date of his death in advance. As soon as he passed away, the Chinese noticed his absence in the country's culture. But Confucianism received many followers and successors. From 136 BC. e. it is an official religious cult in China. Confucius became a deity and temples were named after him. Only in the 20th century, after the Xinhai Revolution, did centuries-old authorities begin to be overthrown.

Disciples of Confucius collected all his wise aphorisms and quotes in the book "Conversations and Judgments." In European countries it is called "Analects of Confucius". Analects are quotes, apt sayings, short poems. We worked on this unique collection for half a century. His sayings teach humanity, piety, respect for elders and explain other moral and ethical foundations of society.

How do our contemporaries see Confucius? After the communist denials of the teachings of Confucius, sobering up finally came. In recent years, the Chinese have again become interested in Confucianism and the personality of the Master. Many tourists go to the places of his wanderings and hold memorial events in his honor. The teachings of the philosopher were again included in the educational programs of Chinese schoolchildren and students.

Vision of good and evil, virtue and vice

A lot of aphorisms and sayings of Confucius are devoted to thoughts about existence, good and evil. The thinker saw a commonality between the laws of nature and human development. He had confidence in subordinating everything in the world to a single algorithm. The philosopher himself studied well and comprehended all the teachings of his predecessors. Some people today question Christian tenets. For example, not everyone can understand why evil must be answered with good. Many people wonder how to relate to the insults inflicted on us; should we respond in kind?

In the raging ocean of everyday passions, quotes from Confucius can become a reliable compass, sometimes a little paradoxical, a little outside the usual system of values. The Chinese Teacher believed that evil should be punished fairly, and good people should be reciprocated with good. A bit of an unexpected decision compared to Christianity. Confucius placed the measure of justice in the hands of the person himself, acting according to circumstances. He also did not deny that someone is watching people from above and rewarding them for their merits and justice. Here are his most striking statements in this direction:

  • It is important to be strict with yourself and gentle with others, this is how people’s hostility is protected.
  • If you show more kindness, then there will be no place for bad deeds in life.
  • Virtue is not alone, it always has neighbors.
  • If you can show mercy, then do it even without prompting from the teacher.
  • Wisdom can only be achieved by showing mercy.

About the nobility of the soul

Many of the sage's sayings are dedicated to nobility. Sometimes they also contradict the point of view of daily experience. Let us give an example of the maxim: “A noble person helps to see only the good in himself, while a lowly person points out the bad.” However, one cannot draw a line between man and life. The paradoxes of Confucius make you think, reflect, and debate. Here, for example, is a controversial statement: “A noble person who lives only in the comforts of home cannot be called such.” Here is another selection of quotes on this topic:


About love, man and woman, parents and children, friends

Confucius has many sayings and aphorisms that describe various relationships: family, friendship, love. After all, friends and our environment often bring us joy, but sometimes disappointment. The philosopher has a lot of advice on this matter. Everyone can find something useful in them:

  • It is difficult to build correct relationships with women and low people. Approaching oneself leads to their swagger, and moving away leads to hatred.
  • A respectful son can be called one who brings grief to his parents only through illness.
  • It's better not to deal with a person you don't trust. After all, it is impossible to ride a cart without an axle.
  • Friends need to be helped and taught to do good, but there is no need to put yourself in a humiliating position in front of those who cannot be changed.
  • You should not show excessive cordiality in friendship, this can lead to loss of favor with friends.

Confucius also had sayings about love. He called love the beginning and end of everything that exists. The sage worshiped love and believed that without it there is no life.

About complex human vicissitudes

Confucius believed that only true sages and fools cannot be taught. He valued knowledge very much and considered it the highest goal of a self-respecting individual. He studied throughout his life and passed on wisdom to his followers. Today we too can enjoy this bottomless source of wisdom. Here are his sayings on this matter:

  • You need to study as if you constantly lack knowledge or are afraid of losing it.
  • Bravery without knowledge is recklessness, respect without knowledge is self-torture, caution without knowledge is cowardice, straightforwardness without knowledge is rudeness.
  • There are no words to describe a scientist who seeks the truth, but is ashamed of poor clothing and rough food.
  • You can endlessly enjoy a child walking confidently along the path of life after you have shown him the path.
  • Through archery we can learn to seek truth. A missed shooter does not look for blame in others, but only in himself.
  • Anyone who does not think about the future will face unexpected troubles.
  • Anyone who does not teach to show kindness to his family does not learn himself.
  • Anyone who does not reflect on the teaching is always mistaken. A person who thinks but does not want to learn finds himself in difficult situations.
  • It is not common for a wise person to do to another what he would not wish for himself.

Success and achieving happiness

Confucius also did not ignore the issues of achieving goals and success in his sayings. In them he gives advice on how to deal with envious people and find balance. Many are familiar with his famous phrase on this matter: “If they spit in your back, it means you are going ahead.” Here are some more quotes:


The meaning of experience, truth and human qualities

“One person curses the darkness all his life, and another lights a small candle,” this phrase betrays the moral experience of many generations. Unfortunately, there are many more critics than those who roll up their sleeves and correct something. The classic of Eastern ethics and philosophy accurately noted that hatred speaks of victory over you. He also noted that earlier people studied in order to improve, but now in order to surprise others with their knowledge. Here are some more apt sayings of the sage:

  • If wealth and fame cannot be acquired honestly, then you need to avoid them. If you cannot avoid poverty and obscurity, then you need to accept them.
  • People are brought together by natural inclinations, but separated by habits.
  • In ancient times, verbosity was not accepted. Then it was shameful not to keep up with your words.
  • The closest thing to humanity is a firm, decisive, simple and taciturn husband.
  • Humanity is very close to us, we just have to desire it.
  • A worthy person does not imitate others; he evaluates actions fairly.

Sayings of Confucius about life

The Chinese thinker was interested in everything, he was inquisitive, and preached kindness and philanthropy. He tries to embrace even something immense. Consider the following sayings of Confucius about life:

  • A person cannot know what death is because he does not know what life is.
  • Before you take revenge, dig two graves.
  • If you watch a person, delve into his actions, take a closer look at his leisure time, then he will not be a mystery to you.
  • Sometimes a person notices a lot, but does not see the main thing.
  • To become human or not depends only on the person himself.
  • Strive to be like worthy people, take a closer look at your shortcomings when meeting a low person.
  • Advise only the one who strives for knowledge, help only the one who dreams of it, teach only the one who wants to comprehend more.

Sayings of Confucius on work and art

How often do people in companies begin to condemn certain politicians and public figures. Many people think that they would be better at one thing or another. They themselves cannot make sense of their own family or team. Here are some of Confucius's sayings about creativity and attitude towards subordinates:

  • The most important thing in government is for the ruler to be a ruler, the subordinate to be the subordinate, the father to be the father, and the son to be the son.
  • Don't hold yourself back in small things, it can ruin a great cause.
  • There is no need to worry about not having a high rank; it is much more worrying to be worthy of this rank.
  • Even when separated, Heaven and Earth do one thing.
  • Everyone has the power to become a noble husband, you just need to decide to do it.
  • The one who discovers something new by turning to the old is worthy of being a teacher.
  • To earn the respect of people, you need to manage them with dignity. If you want people to work hard, treat them kindly.
  • He who finds a job he likes will never work a single day in his life.

About myself

The world of amazing sayings and witty observations of the eastern sage is simply amazing! Some of his statements relate to Confucius himself:

  • I need a lot of work to expand my knowledge, not to brag to others, not to feel tired, to teach others and not to be disappointed.
  • I have never met a person who lived in solitude to achieve his goal, who followed what was necessary to realize his truth.
  • Even among two people, I will find something to learn. I will emulate their strengths and learn from their weaknesses.

Each of you can choose from among the many sayings of Confucius a wise guide to life. This will help you cope with difficulties and choose the right path to wisdom.


Confucius (Kung Tzu) was born around 551 BC. e., in Qufu, Shan-tung province. Chinese thinker and philosopher. His teachings had a profound influence on the civilization of China and East Asia, becoming the basis of the philosophical system known as Confucianism. Author of the work “Conversations and Judgments”. Died 479 BC to Qufu.

  • The only error is one that cannot be corrected.
  • Having learned the truth in the morning, you can die in the evening.
  • If they spit in your back, it means you are ahead.
  • Only the wisest and the stupidest do not change.
  • It is easier to overcome bad habits today than tomorrow.
  • Silence is a true friend that will never change.
  • When the paths are not the same, they do not make plans together.
  • It is easier to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.
  • Learning without thought is in vain, thought without learning is dangerous.
  • Pay for evil justly. And pay for good with good.
  • Only the wisest and the stupidest are not teachable.
  • Blessed is he who knows nothing: he does not risk being misunderstood.
  • Sending people to war untrained means betraying them.
  • He who comprehends the new while cherishing the old can be a teacher.
  • A sage is ashamed of his shortcomings, but is not ashamed to correct them.
  • The only real mistake is not correcting your past mistakes.
  • The people can be forced to obey, but they cannot be forced to know.
  • When a small man is brave but unjust, he becomes a robber.
  • Learning without reflection is useless, but reflection without learning is also dangerous.
  • Man can make the path great, but it is the path that makes man great.
  • Don't be sad that no one knows you, but be sad about your imperfections.
  • A noble man realizes justice. The little man realizes the benefit.
  • The ancients preferred to remain silent, ashamed that they might not keep up with the word.
  • A wise man does not do to others what he does not want done to him.
  • How can we know what death is when we do not yet know what life is?
  • The madman complains that people don't know him, the wise man complains that he doesn't know people.
  • Consider whether what you promise is true and possible, for a promise is a duty.
  • An unshakable middle - this virtue is the highest of all, but has long been rare among people.
  • Don't worry about people not knowing you, worry about not knowing people.
  • The middle is the point closest to wisdom; not reaching it is the same as crossing it.
  • He who does not change his father's path three years after his death can be called one who honors his parents.
  • A noble man makes demands on himself, a low man makes demands on others.
  • Having met a worthy person, strive to become equal to him; When you meet someone unworthy, delve within yourself.
  • In ancient times, people studied in order to improve themselves. Nowadays people study in order to surprise others.
  • It is not worth reasoning with a scientist who, while striving for the truth, is at the same time ashamed of bad clothes and bad food.
  • Archery teaches us how to seek the truth. When a shooter misses, he does not blame others, but looks for the blame in himself.
  • When you behave correctly, they will follow you even without orders; when you behave incorrectly, they will not listen, even if you order.
  • In a country where there is order, be bold in both actions and speeches. In a country where there is no order, be bold in your actions, but careful in your speech.
  • To admit our shortcomings when we are reproached for them is modesty, to reveal them to our friends is simplicity, and to expose them to everyone is pride.

He saw the meaning of human existence in the establishment in the Celestial Empire of the highest and universal form of the socio-ethical order “Tao”, or path. He considered humanity, justice, self-esteem, filial piety, loyalty and mercy to be the main manifestations of Tao. This article will focus on the sayings and aphorisms of Confucius.

Confucianism in China

In modern terms, we can say that Confucius is the main brand of China. After all, the self-identification of a people is associated with the choice of a person who represents them as accurately and vividly as possible. This is actually not such a simple question. On the solid and extensive Chinese foundation of the most ancient historical and philosophical thought of the world rises the figure of Confucius, the wisdom of whose aphorisms and teachings truly deserves veneration.

Personality

As mentioned in the Historical Notes of Sima Qian, an ancient Chinese historian and encyclopedist, Confucius was born into a “wild marriage.” Such a concept as a “wild marriage” means that an elderly parent allowed himself to have a relationship with a young concubine. His father died, and Confucius was brought up in a single-parent family. He became the first Chinese teacher to teach to anyone for a bundle of dried meat. So, the school replaced his related association. His very name Kung Fu Tzu (in Chinese) speaks of his calling, because “fu tzu” is translated as “teacher, sage, philosopher.”

Confucius lived in an era of fragmentation and struggle among many kingdoms. The century was not easy, but it was also remarkable, which is why it was called the golden age of Chinese philosophy. In China, becoming a philosopher means becoming a teacher and getting schooled. Confucius traveled to various countries with his students and offered his services in government - now called management. His activity is truly unique; its results greatly affected the life of society in the 6th-5th centuries BC. Despite the innovative tendency of his teaching, Confucius insisted on returning to the roots, that is, on rethinking existing knowledge.

good and evil

You should study the sayings and aphorisms of Confucius about good and evil.

As if confirming the wisdom of many religious movements and anticipating Christian ideology, Confucius appeals to a person’s reason and awareness with the phrase: “Do not do to others what you do not wish for yourself.” From century to century, this wisdom is based on not causing harm to others, since, as people say, retribution for actions far from goodness will follow either inevitably, or over time, or will affect the lives of descendants. When performing any action, we send certain information into space, which creates a certain charge of energy that boomerangs over us at the most unexpected moment. When we do good things, we attract good things into our lives, and vice versa.

Speaking about Confucius’s aphorisms about good and evil, one cannot fail to mention this saying: “Try to be kinder at least a little, and then you will see that you will not be able to do a bad deed.” This expression can be interpreted as follows: once having taken the path of good, we form in our heads a block of rejection of everything unworthy in the behavior of a conscious and developed person, which simply does not allow us to sink again, because in this way we will betray ourselves. Having once tasted something better in our everyday life, we yearn for it with all our hearts, and run away from the old. This is how development happens.

Aphorisms of Confucius on the meaning of life

“You can curse the darkness all your life, but you can light at least a small candle.” This statement by Confucius, an ancient thinker and philosopher, is imbued with the deepest wisdom. How often do we lose our bearings, forget to look at all the beautiful things that exist in us, in other people, in our surroundings, and become fixated on the negative side of life. You just need to light the spark of one pleasant thought in yourself, and life begins to take on new colors. As we blossom from the inside, we transform on the outside, and we also influence those around us. This is how we create our own reality.

“He is not great who never fell, but he is great who fell and got up.” This can be called one of the best aphorisms of Confucius. As has been accurately noted, every failure leads to success. “Falling” is useful and necessary if a person knows how to learn a lesson. The height of our achievements is determined by the depth of the hole into which we find ourselves. Every time you fail, be defeated, rejoice - because you have room to grow, you are not a lost option for society and the planet, you still have to work on yourself.

“In fact, life is simple, but we persistently complicate it.” And in fact, everything complex is veiled simple. Every complex subject can be disassembled into simple components, this is what helps to comprehend something complex. Having dealt with simple things, we are able to unravel something that previously seemed absurd to us. Another meaning of this statement lies in the fact that we are bored with things that we understand, we need mystery, pretentiousness, some pathos and complexity in execution. For example, simple dishes and gourmet dishes. Sometimes you need to use remarkable abilities to identify the ingredients of some dish, saturated with various spices and additives. This is how we move away from the simple truth - simplicity leads to health, because healthy food is not always tasty (at first glance) food that has undergone a minimum of heat treatment. We are served dishes that, in addition to various brines, could have passed through a saucepan, frying pan, oven, just to get to your table. It would seem, why such tricks? It all lies in the greed and insatiability of human nature, incapable of enjoying little things for a long time.

Aphorisms of Confucius and their interpretation - about education

“The most beautiful sight in the world is the sight of a child walking confidently along the path of life after you have shown him the right path.” Many of us are still those same children who have not found their purpose. And all because we were raised by children wandering in the dark. Yes, in life you need to be a child, but purposeful - so that your eyes sparkle and your hands do. Laziness and idleness lead to the destruction of personality. A true child is a creative being, ready at any moment to do what he loves.

About the board

We included the following among Confucius’s aphorisms about the state: “If you are overly zealous in your service, you may lose the favor of the sovereign. If you are overly cordial in friendship, you will lose the favor of your friends.” We can say that this quote conveys the idea that intrusiveness and the desire to please everyone only repel. You don't have to try hard to please others. And is it worth striving to gain the favor of another person? Isn’t it easier and calmer to be yourself, without antics and self-restraints? Don't be afraid to refuse people if their suggestions contradict your principles and guidelines. This way, on the contrary, you will earn the respect of others as a person you can rely on in difficult times. Honesty with yourself leads to honesty with others. On some invisible level, people are able to sense whether they are being flattered or not. And this largely shapes their further attitude towards people.

“If you yourself are straight, then they will do everything even without an order. And if you yourself are not straight, then they will not obey, despite your order.” A person who changes his mind, who has seven Fridays in a week, is not able to maintain his person as an authority for his subjects. Being insecure, such a person may turn out to be unreliable in running a country or a household - he will squander everything until a rainy day with his contradictory ideas and infantile decisions. A person in leadership must be distinguished by the directness of his views and thoughts in order to convey them as accurately as possible to those around him.

“It is a shame to be poor and to occupy a low position if law reigns in the state; just as it is a shame to be noble and rich when lawlessness reigns in the state.” This statement can apply to absolutely any state, because now there are not many countries in the world where noble people are in power, and the law is fair and humane.

About love

“Only a truly humane person is capable of both loving and hating.” In this statement by Confucius, we see that strong feelings that are fully revealed are capable of being experienced by people who can empathize with others, have compassion for them, who look at the world with a heightened sense of justice. There is boundless love, there is just hatred. The rest can experience sublime and base feelings, but without fanaticism. Here people, who have departed from the usual animal habits, learn righteous anger and love.

"Love is the beginning and the end of our existence. Without love there is no life. Because love is what a wise man bows to." This is one of the most heartfelt quotes and aphorisms of Confucius about love. He who rejects love is stupid, because, left without love, he loses motivation for activity, life, and waking up in the morning. We must love, if not the people around us, then at least the things that surround us every day, otherwise life turns into complete chaos. You can also understand this as self-love. Only by loving himself does a person begin to transform and improve, create and comprehend this world. Confucius, whose quotes and aphorisms we consider in this article, was a wise and profound man. Therefore, all his sayings, coming into the field of view of a developed person, flourish in the thought process of the recipient.

“When the paths are unequal, they do not make plans together” is one of the most practical aphorisms of Confucius about love, which hints at the fact that people with different goals in life cannot unite their destinies with favorable consequences. Only the united spirit of lovers is able to maximize the potential of each of them and move them as far as possible towards a common goal.

Oh happiness

“Eating rough food, drinking spring water, sleeping with your own palm under your head - all this contains special joy. But wealth and nobility acquired unrighteously are like floating clouds for me!” This is one of the most striking aphorisms of Confucius about happiness, which implies the search for bliss in the small and pious. Being satisfied with this bit of comfort, a person can survive anywhere and anytime, without experiencing extreme hardships, because he has not adapted to luxury. Abundance guarantees the degradation of soul and body. And wealth acquired by dishonest means generally destroys a person from the inside, devours him entirely, turning him into his most devoted slave, ready again and again to embark on adventures to preserve illusory freedom from poverty. All these “floating clouds,” like dust, dissipate in difficult times or harm their owner, because he is attached to them with all his soul, and, therefore, is ready to die for them.

Another pearl from Confucius’s aphorisms about happiness: “Learning and applying what you have learned to work at the right time - isn’t that wonderful! Talking with a friend who has come from distant countries - isn’t it joyful! Isn’t it sublime - not to be appreciated by the world and not to harbor a grudge!” Here we see that Confucius considered happiness not only wisdom, not only humanity, but also uniqueness, isolation from the general mass of people, the ability to think individually and at the same time feel organic, not feel like an outcast, not complain about the world and society .

About work

The aphorisms of Confucius about work included the following: “Whoever repeats old knowledge and finds something new in it can be a leader.” The essence of this statement is that innovation can only be shown based on previously known ideas. Nihilism, based on the denial of the mistakes of the past, is not appropriate here. The past is a tool for sculpting our present and future state, just as by looking into the future, we can change the present. He who uses the knowledge of his ancestors and extracts grains of truth from them is able to occupy leading positions in the state, because he knows the ancient secret of government.

“A human husband will not remain long in straitened circumstances, but he will not remain idle for long either.” This is one of Confucius's aphorisms about work and laziness. Reading these lines, you immediately remember the Russian folk wisdom: “There is time for business, an hour for fun.” Here, however, there is some deviation from the image we are used to: in Confucius, a person does not exhaust himself with work and finds sufficient time for rest, that is, an hour for work, an hour for rest. Here we are talking about balance in life, which is achieved by balancing all aspects of life. Good, enjoyable work will not cause inconvenience or displeasure to the person who takes it on. That is, having found something you like, you can enjoy every moment as much as possible, without experiencing torment and suffering from the feeling of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Character traits

Confucius, whose wise sayings, aphorisms and quotes we are considering in this article, according to his students, had an affectionate and good-natured disposition, was distinguished by patience and fairness, plant foods always prevailed in his diet, although he did not disdain meat. He was immoderate only in wine, revering it as a way of meditation, but he never got drunk to the point of unconsciousness. He was modest in speech and in food, separating the main and the secondary. Ginger has always been of great importance in his life, which is believed in China to neutralize the harmful effects of meat and intoxicating substances.

He finds the reasons for his failures in himself, but the vile man finds them in others." This wonderful statement perfectly describes the way of life of people who are accustomed to blaming anyone for all their troubles, but not themselves. It is not they who are lazy and lacking initiative, but the state undermines their “wings”, it is not they who are weak-willed, but their parents who “raised them poorly.” Excuses can always be found. A truly strong-minded person is able to admit his imperfections and strives to change himself at any cost.

“When you meet a worthy person, think about becoming equal to him, and when you see an unworthy person, look into yourself.” Noticing the merits of others is an entire art of life, because initially a person looks for flaws in others. This property of an animal is to rise above others by finding their weaknesses, while humanity presupposes the vision of God in another person through admiration for his creativity, skills, and knowledge. Only a developed personality can see the divine principle in every person and help him discover this powerful force of creation.

“Nothing so easily excites a person and brings him to self-forgetfulness, which leads to the most disastrous consequences, than outbursts of vexation and anger, and therefore, in order to avoid great delusions, it is necessary to notice them in the very bud.” How much wood can you break if you are in a bad mood! A person who cannot control his anger is not able to manage his life.

Quotes from Confucius about the meaning of life and happiness are collected in this article.

Confucius: quotes and aphorisms about the meaning of life

Simplicity is one of the best qualities of a person.

Try to be at least a little kinder, and you will see that you will not be able to commit a bad act.

In fact, life is simple, but we persistently complicate it.

If we know so little about life, what can we know about death?

A person falls ill for many reasons: some fall ill from a cold, some from fatigue and grief.

A truly humane husband achieves everything through his own efforts.

Live the way you want, not the way others expect you to live. It doesn’t matter whether you live up to their expectations or not, you will die without them. And you will win your victories yourself!

When away from home, behave as if you are receiving honored guests. When using the services of people, behave as if you were performing a solemn ceremony. Don't do to others what you wouldn't want for yourself. Then there will be no discontent either in the state or in the family.

To study and, when the time comes, to apply what you have learned to business - isn’t it wonderful! Talking with a friend who has come from afar - isn’t it joyful! Not to be appreciated by the world and not to harbor a grudge - isn’t that sublime!

If they spit in your back, it means you are ahead.

The one who moves mountains first removes small stones.

The only real mistake is not correcting your past mistakes.

He is not great who has never fallen, but he is great who has fallen and gotten up!

Confucius: quotes with meaning

Forget insults, never forget kindness.

You can only overcome bad habits today, not tomorrow.

Silence is a great friend that will never change.

The word must be true, the action must be decisive.

An angry person is always full of poison.

When it seems to you that a goal is unattainable, do not change the goal - change your action plan.

Confucius Quotes about People

Young people should not be looked down upon. It is very possible that, having matured, they will become outstanding men. Only those who have achieved nothing, having lived to be forty or fifty years old, do not deserve respect.

Humanity has always sought an answer to an important question: “What is the meaning of existence?” If Western thinkers approached it rationally, then Eastern sages looked for the answer in the soul and heart. The Chinese philosopher Confucius, whose quotes represent a special moral and ethical ideal of life, brought humanity closer to understanding the essence of existence. Discover it for yourself.

Wise words about life have always been a guiding thread for a person that led to success, happiness and self-realization. Wise sayings open up new facets of existence, point to true values, and help to understand how happy a person is at different moments in life.

Modern man lives with a clouded mind, in the rush of days he does not have the opportunity to think about what is truly valuable in life. Quotes from the greats are the quintessence of life guidelines.

Could Confucius (Kun Qiu) have thought that twenty centuries later everything he said about life, the world order, and the principles of interaction between people in society would still be relevant.

If you are confused, have difficulties in life, or are looking for spiritual support, then quotes from Confucius will help you find peace of mind and determine life goals and values. Here are wise quotes about life drawn from his teachings:

“Three paths lead to knowledge: the path of reflection is the noblest path, the path of imitation is the easiest path and the path of experience is the most bitter path”;
“If you hate, it means you have been defeated”;
“Before you take revenge, dig two graves”;
“Give instructions only to those who seek knowledge after revealing their ignorance”;
“Happiness is when you are understood, great happiness is when you are loved, real happiness is when you love”;
“In fact, life is simple, but we persistently complicate it”;
“Intemperance in small things will ruin a great cause”;
“People in ancient times did not like to talk much. They considered it a shame for themselves not to keep up with their own words”;
“We take advice in drops, but we give it out in buckets”;

“A gemstone cannot be polished without friction. Likewise, a person cannot become successful without a sufficient number of difficult attempts”;
“A noble man makes demands on himself, a low man makes demands on others”;
“You can only overcome bad habits today, not tomorrow”;
“Three things never come back - time, word, opportunity. Therefore: don’t waste time, choose your words, don’t miss the opportunity”;
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a single day in your life”;
“I don’t get upset if people don’t understand me, I get upset if I don’t understand people”;
“Try to be at least a little kinder, and you will see that you will not be able to commit a bad act”;
“In ancient times, people studied in order to improve themselves. Nowadays they study in order to surprise others”;
“You can curse the darkness all your life, or you can light a small candle”;
“Misfortune came - man gave birth to it, happiness came - man raised it”;

“There is beauty in everything, but not everyone can see it”;
“A noble person is serene at heart. A low person is always preoccupied";
“If they spit in your back, it means you are ahead”;
“He is not great who never fell, but he is great who fell and got up”;
“Never tell anything good or bad about yourself. In the first case, they won’t believe you, but in the second, they will embellish you”;
“When it is obvious that a goal is unattainable, do not change the goal - change your plan of action”;
“You can’t regret anything in this life. It happened - draw a conclusion and move on with your life”;
“Visiting and listening to evil people is already the beginning of an evil deed”;

“When you feel bad, listen to nature. The silence of the world is more soothing than millions of unnecessary words”;
“Silence is a true friend that will never change”;
“He who does not think about distant difficulties will certainly face near troubles.”

The wise sayings of Confucius will help you find peace of mind. Evaluate the clever statements of the great thinker, find with their help a foothold and life guidelines.