Kung Fu Tzu (551 – 479 B.C.) or “Confucius” was the most influential philosopher-political thinker in China during the Asian feudal era. The son of a declining noble family, he struggled to make a place for himself in the ruling class of his time in the kingdom of Lu, China.

Known as Confucius in the West, this Eastern thinker formulated what would become known as Confucianism , an idea that advocated good governance. Its bases were tolerance, respect, altruism and ethics.

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The Chinese thinker’s most revealing phrases

In this article we offer you the most outstanding reflections and phrases of the author Confucius.

Learning without reflection is a waste of energy

Reflection is part of the experience we gain.

2. We need to be at peace with ourselves, if we cannot guide others in their search for peace

Before we educate others, we must educate ourselves.

3. Only the most excellent wise men, and the most finished fools, are incomprehensible

Curious duality that Confucius poses.

4. A man without virtue cannot dwell long in adversity, nor can he dwell in happiness

Excellent thought for deep reflection.

5. A general can be deprived of his army, but not a man of his will

The will is more powerful than a whole army of men without it.

6. It is possible to achieve something after three hours of fighting, but surely it can be achieved with just three words of affection

The word must take precedence over violence.

7. What you don’t want others to do to you, don’t do to others

One has to be consistent with what one does, and coherent at the same time.

8. Learning without thinking is useless. Thinking without learning, dangerous

It’s all about learning and thinking. We have to complement them.

9. A man of virtuous words is not always a virtuous man

We are what we do, not what we say we will do.

10. Ignorance is the night of the mind: but a night without moon and stars

It’s very dangerous to remain in ignorance.

11. The virtuous man rests on virtue, and the wise man longs for it

Virtue seems to be a key issue for Confucius.

12. A gentleman should be ashamed if his words are better than his deeds

Once again, one has to act as he says.

13. Hearing or reading without reflection is a useless occupation

You don’t have to swallow things, you have to chew them.

14. Be sad because you don’t know men

We have to empathise in life, only then can we achieve harmony.

15. A man’s defects are always suited to his type of mind

We are all limited by our thoughts.

16. He who governs by means of his moral excellence can be compared to the Pole Star

For Confucius, government has to be something ethical and well done.

17. Never make a bet. If you know you will win, you are a rogue; and if you do not know, you are a fool

Funny line about the game.

18. Before starting a journey of revenge, dig two graves

Revenge is treacherous, not beneficial.

19. Observe their defects and you will know their virtues

All people are composed of both concepts.

20. Before the pole star, all other stars bow to it

Before the good ruler, as he refers, everyone follows him if he is virtuous.

21. I don’t try to know the questions; I try to know the answers

Asking is easy, solving them is the hard part.

22. Artifical language and flattering behavior rarely accompany virtue

There’s nothing emptier than lip service.

23. The only ones who do not change are the first order sages and the completely idiots

The ends always tend to be rigid.

24. Demand much of yourself and expect little from others

Waiting for others to behave as we do is a waste of time.

25. If you already know what you have to do and you don’t do it, then you are worse off than before

You have to act if you know what you want. If you don’t, you won’t find your way.

26. To know that one knows what one knows and that one does not know what one does not know; this is true knowledge

Having clear goals is paramount in this life.

27. Men are distinguished less by their natural qualities than by the culture they provide for themselves

Man was born wanting to know.

28. Education makes us different and makes us go away

Socialization lacks collective commitment, and often classifies people into different ones.

29. The evil is not in having faults, but in not trying to make amends

To err is human, to rectify wise.

30. The noble man has a broad and unbiased mind

Ethical awareness was an important issue for Confucius.

31. If one does not know how to govern himself, how will he know how to govern others?

We must always be in control of our destiny and thoughts if we are to lead the masses.

32. The true gentleman is the one who only preaches what he practices

Once again, Confucius calls for coherence between action and saying.

33. You should not complain about snow on your neighbor’s roof when it also covers your doorstep

Before we complain about what’s not ours, we have to clean up after ourselves.

34. The inferior man is prejudiced and lacks a broad mind

There are always exploiters and exploited.

35. What the wise seek, he seeks in himself; what the common man seeks, he seeks in others

It’s the difference between successful and unsuccessful people.

36. Wisdom is concerned with being slow in her speech and diligent in her actions

Gentle words, forceful actions.

37. Cautious people are rarely wrong

Caution is a privilege for people.

38. Learn to live and you will know how to die well

You don’t have to fear death if you love life.

39. No matter how far the spirit goes, it will never go further than the heart

Passion takes us to unsuspected heights.

40. Silence is the only friend that never betrays

It’s better to be quiet and work like an ant.

41. I was told about it and forgot about it; I saw it and understood it; I did it and learned about it

We have to learn to listen to others.

42. It is easier to seize the commander-in-chief of an army than to deprive a wretch of his freedom

Freedom is what sustains people’s existence.

43. Whoever makes the old way again learns the new way can be considered a teacher

Interesting thought for meditation.

44. Do not attempt to put out a fire with fire, or to remedy a flood with water

You have to know how to find the right solutions for each problem.

45. The man who has made a mistake and does not correct it makes another major mistake

It’s not bad to be wrong. It’s wrong to do it again.

46. Study the past if you want to predict the future

From the past you learn to shape a better future.

47. Some money avoids worries; a lot of it attracts them

Money has always been a complexity in human beings.

48. A strong voice cannot compete with a clear voice, even if it is a simple murmur

Not by raising our voices do we have more reason.

49. Treat the state as you treat your family, with authority, competence and good example

For some, the government is a reflection of the people and the family.

50. If you do not yet know life, how can it be possible to know death?

Death is part of life.

51. When you see a man devoid of virtue, examine yourselves

We always see in others our own faults.

52. Human nature is good and evil is essentially unnatural

Are we good people by nature?

53. If you don’t respect the sacred, you have nothing to fix your conduct on

Customs and traditions were essential to Confucius.

54. The superior man always thinks of virtue; the vulgar man thinks of comfort

The comfort zone is reserved for the complacent.

56. When you see a wise man, think of equalizing his virtues

You have to copy other virtuous people, make an example of the good ones.

57. Works to prevent crimes so as not to need punishment

Society needs education for good behavior. This is how violence is avoided.

57. The high man is he who works before he speaks, and practices what he professes

We have to do what we preach.

58. The wise know that they ignore

The wise man knows everything.

59. It is not the weeds that choke the good seed, but the negligence of the farmer

It’s up to each of us to solve the problems.

60. The superior man is persistent in the right path

The superior man as the good, ethical and kind man.

61. Only the virtuous is competent to love men

We have to know how to love others in order to be an example to society. Loving oneself is easy.

62. He who knows the truth is not the same as he who loves it

Many know the truth but do not want to discover it.

63. Virtue does not dwell in solitude: it must have neighbors

Human beings are sociable and were born to understand each other.

64. Better than the man who knows what is right is the man who loves what is right

To be moral in this life, we have to have justice present.

65. A scholar who is not serious will not inspire respect

Intellect and science need seriousness.

66. He who governs a people by setting a good example is like the Pole Star

Confucius made this simile for the good ruler.

67. To know how to govern is to rectify

Ruling is not only the art of knowing how to command.

68. There is nothing colder than advice that is impossible to apply

You have to be realistic and not just utopian.