If there is a philosopher and thinker who has had an enormous impact on Chinese and East Asian culture, it is, without a doubt, Confucius. And their teachings and ideas continue to influence in the social norms and values of modern China and many other countries.
The ideas of Confucius
Born in 551 BC. C. the state of Lu (present-day Shandong province) in the late Zhou dynasty, Confucius lived through a time of great social and political chaos that shaped his ideas. about morality, government and personal ethics.
Great philosopher, as well as a teacher and politician, advocated the cultivation of morality and virtue, respect for family and social harmony, and the importance of education and self-discipline. His philosophical thought, later known as Confucianism, emphasized values such as benevolence (ren), appropriate behavior (li) and filial piety (xiao).
Although his ideas were not widely recognized during his lifetime, they gained prominence after his death and formed the basis of Chinese political and social thought for centuries.
20 wise quotes from Confucius
There are many Confucius phrases that are still very present today, Well, among them we find some of the best philosophical quotes for a more authentic and happy life. It is not strange that some of them look familiar to you, as you will see below. We have selected 20 that remain truly inspiring:
9. «Knowing what is right and not doing it is the worst of cowardice.»
Confucius reminds us here that we have the moral responsibility to act to defend what is right and correct.
10. «Where there is education there is no class distinction.»
According to Confucius, Education has the power to overcome social gaps and promote equality.
11. «He who controls his anger, controls his worst enemy.»
Anger, when uncontrolled, can lead us to make bad decisionscreate conflicts and destroy relationships.
12. «Demand a lot of yourself and expect little from others. This way you will save yourself disappointment.»
Confucius here emphasizes the importance of self-reliance, personal responsibility and managing expectations to maintain peace of mind.
13. «The superior person is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.»
Confucius highlights here the value of facts over words empty.
14. «He who learns but does not think is lost; he who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.»
Both absorbing information without reflection or criticism and reflecting without seeking knowledge are, for Confucius, wrong ways of acting. Both learning and reflection are essential for good judgment and must be in balance.
15. «When you see someone good, try to imitate him; when you see someone bad, examine yourself.»
A quote that encourages us to see the actions of others as tools for learning and personal growth.
16. «Some money prevents worries; a lot of money attracts them.»
Confucius here warns against extremes and advocates a balanced and thoughtful view on money and its role in our life.
17. “Without feelings of respect, what is there that distinguishes men from beasts?”
Respect is what allows us to live in harmony with each other.
18. “If I am walking with two other people, each of them will serve as my teacher.”
All people have something valuable to teach us. This was a central idea for Confucius, which invited us not to judge or criticize anyone and to see goodness or what stands out for good in others.
19. “We must feel pain, but not sink under its oppression.”
Although feeling sorry or pain is natural, and even necessary, We should not let it dominate our lives. nor prevent us from moving forward.19.
20. «It doesn’t matter how slow you go, as long as you don’t stop.»
Persistence and continuous effort to achieve objectives It is the most important thing, even if it takes time. When there is a stumble, we must also learn to get up.