Confucius - Confucianism
Metaphysics / Philosophy of Confucius, Confucianism Beliefs & Religion

Chinese Philosophy - Famous Philosopher - Confucius (551 - 479 BCE)
Confucius Pictures Quotes / Quotations

This equilibrium is the great root from which grow all the human actings in the world, and this harmony is the universal path which they all should pursue. (Confucius, Doctrine of the Mean)

Men's natures are alike, it is their habits that carry them far apart. (Confucius, Analects)

Study the past if you would define the future. (Confucius, Analects)

I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge; I am one who is fond of antiquity, and earnest in seeking it there.

To learn and from time to time to apply what one has learned, isn't that a pleasure? ... Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous. (Confucius, Analects).

Introduction
The Life of the Chinese Sage, Confucius & the Main Ideas of Confucianism

Confucianism is an ethical and philosophical system based upon the teachings of the Chinese sage, Confucius.

Confucius was a famous thinker and social philosopher of China, whose teachings have deeply influenced East Asia for centuries. Living in the Spring and Autumn period (a time when feudal states fought against each other), he was convinced of his ability to restore the world's order, though failed. After much traveling around China to promote his ideas among rulers, he eventually became involved in teaching disciples. His philosophy emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, and justice and sincerity. Used since then as the imperial orthodoxy, Confucius' thoughts have been developed into a vast and complete philosophical system known in the west as Confucianism.

The Analects is a short collection of his discussions with disciples, compiled posthumously. These contain an overview of his teachings. Confucius presents himself as a transmitter who invented nothing and his greatest emphasis may be on study, the Chinese character that opens the book. In this respect, he is seen by Chinese people as the Greatest Master. Far from trying to build a systematic theory of life and society, he wanted his disciples to think deeply for themselves and relentlessly study the outside world. For almost two thousand years, Analects had also been the fundamental course of study for any Chinese scholar, for a man was not considered morally upright or enlightened if he did not study Confucius' works.

Confucius' philosophy was predominately a moral and political one. It was founded on the belief that heaven and earth coexist in harmony and balanced strength whilst maintaining a perpetual dynamism. Human beings, he taught, are sustained by these conditions and must strive to emulate the cosmic model.

The Doctrine of the Mean is the elaboration of the way of harmony; it furnishes the details of the kind of life that, in its recognition of due degree, will be in accordance with the principle of equilibrium, the root of all things. These ideas of harmony, justice and balance in both the cosmos and the individual provided a focus for political theory and practice. (Collinson. Plant, Wilkinson, Fifty Eastern Thinkers)

We hope you enjoy the following quotes from Confucius - he was obviously very wise, and well understood the dynamic unity of reality which the Wave Structure of Matter in Space confirms.

Geoff Haselhurst, Karene Howie

Gallery of Confucius Pictures & Confucianism Quotes

Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes. (Confucius)

Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it. (Confucius)

Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses. (Confucius)

He who will not economize will have to agonize. (Confucius)

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. (Confucius)

Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star. (Confucius)

It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop. (Confucius)

Men's natures are alike, it is their habits that carry them far apart. (Confucius)

Respect yourself and others will respect you. (Confucius)

Study the past if you would define the future. (Confucius)

The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does not forget that disorder may come. Thus his person is not endangered, and his States and all their clans are preserved. (Confucius)

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

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

When anger rises, think of the consequences. (Confucius)

When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves. (Confucius)

Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart. (Confucius)

They must often change who would be constant in happiness or wisdom. (Confucius, Analects)

By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart. (Confucius, Analects)

Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue. (Confucius, Analects)

Have no friends not equal to yourself. (Confucius, Analects)

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. (Confucius, Analects)

He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good. (Confucius, Analects)

He with whom neither slander that gradually soaks into the mind, nor statements that startle like a wound in the flesh, are successful may be called intelligent indeed. (Confucius, Analects)

Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles. (Confucius, Analects)

I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge; I am one who is fond of antiquity, and earnest in seeking it there.
(Confucius, Analects)

I have not seen a person who loved virtue, or one who hated what was not virtuous. He who loved virtue would esteem nothing above it.
(Confucius, Analects)

If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.
(Confucius, Analects)

If a man withdraws his mind from the love of beauty, and applies it as sincerely to the love of the virtuous; if, in serving his parents, he can exert his utmost strength; if, in serving his prince, he can devote his life; if in his intercourse with his friends, his words are sincere - although men say that he has not learned, I will certainly say that he has.
(Confucius, Analects)

Is virtue a thing remote? I wish to be virtuous, and lo! Virtue is at hand. (Confucius, Analects)

Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous. (Confucius, Analects)