confucius

I say...

The wise are free from perplexities; the virtuous from anxiety; and the bold from fear.

I say...

Employ the upright and put aside all the crooked; in this way the crooked can be made to be upright.

I say...

When good government prevails in a state, language may be lofty and bold, and actions the same. When bad government prevails, the actions may be lofty and bold, but the language may be with some reserve.

I say...

If a student is not eager, I won't teach him; if he is not struggling with the truth, I won't reveal it to him. If I lift up one corner and he can't come back with the other three, I won't do it again.

I say...

Yu, shall I teach you about knowledge? What you know, you know, what you don't know, you don't know. This is knowledge.

I say...

If you govern the people legalistically and control them by punishment, they will avoid crime, but have no personal sense of shame. If you govern them by means of virtue and control them with propriety, they will gain their own sense of shame, and thus correct themselves.

I say...

When the Superior Man eats he does not try to stuff himself; at rest he does not seek perfect comfort; he is diligent in his work and careful in speech. He avails himself to people of the Tao and thereby corrects himself. This is the kind of person of whom you can say, 'he loves learning.'

I say...

I am not bothered by the fact that I am unknown. I am bothered when I do not know others.

I say...

To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous.

I say...

Luxury leads to laxity, frugality leads to firmness. It is better to be firm than to be lax.