Confucius Quotes for Bottomless Thought
Confucius quotes come from a Chinese sage who turned the page to Chapter Enlightenment. He never claimed to invent any of the concepts that he advocated.
A Confucius famous quote will never deliver a direct answer to any question. In the fashion of the author himself, a quote by Confucius will instead offer a portal to another realm of thinking, where past events and deep thought bring individuals prudent, sincere, and moral answers.
The Life Cycle of a Sage
Confucius married at the age of 19, but then divorced 4 years later so that he could devote more time to his studies. When he was 23, his mother died. This sent him into 3 years of solitary mourning. During this dark period, he established the pilot writings of his philosophies.
After hitting the road with his concepts, Confucius gathered disciples, landed in prison, nearly fell victim to an assassination attempt, and was subjected to tortured starvation.
He later retreated to poverty in his home
state and submitted to writing for posterity.
Confucianism Simplified
Confucius' teachings can be summed in one simple concept: The Golden Rule (treat others as you would want to be treated). He named 5 relationship prototypes to demonstrate: prince/subject, father/son, husband/wife, elder/child, and friend/friend. He taught that mutual respect would establish harmony, and that small examples of accord should be mirrored by governments.
Confucius believed that rules are
necessary, and that aristocratic bloodlines should not be used to establish
leadership. He gave little weight
to money or material possessions. Surprisingly, the sage was himself a descendant of the Shang Dynasty.
Confucius says...
Confucius Quick Facts
Born: 551 B.C.
Died: 478 B.C.
Nationality: Chinese
Education: Unclear, though Confucius'
extensive knowledge of cultural literature and music point toward some sort of
early formal education
Occupation: State official of agriculture, stone mason, soldier, philosopher, teacher
Interests/Hobbies: Ancient rituals, societal order, government reform, playing of music.
Confucius More info
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Your Top Ten Confucius Quotes:
"Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles." - Confucius
"The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home." - Confucius
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"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - Confucius
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"Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire." - Confucius
"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated." - Confucius
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"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." - Confucius
"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." - Confucius
Also see: Inspirational Quotes, Inspirational Quotes for Graduates