Quotes on Chinese Philosophy

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.

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.

Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.

Virtuous people often revenge themselves for the constraints to which they submit by the boredom which they inspire.

To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage, or of principle.

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

When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.

Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.

Wherever you go, go with all your heart.

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.

Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.

Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.

Choose a career you love and you will never have to go to work.

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.

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.

He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.

You cannot open a book without learning something.

A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.

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.

In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.

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.