Confucius Quotes on Life
Confucius was a Chinese philosopher and political teacher of the Spring and Autumn period. This page collects quotes attributed to Confucius on the topic of life, drawn from across the philosopher's works.
Quotes
-
Attributed to Confucius:
“At fifteen I had my mind bent on learning. At thirty I stood firm. At forty I had no doubts. At fifty I knew the decrees of Heaven. At sixty my ear was an obedient organ for the reception of truth. At seventy I could follow what my heart desired, without transgressing what was right.”
-
Attributed to Confucius:
“Have no friends not equal to yourself.”
-
“As quoted in The Importance of Living (1937) by Lin Yutang , p. v”
It is not truth that makes man great, but man that makes truth great. -
“The wise find pleasure in water ; the virtuous find pleasure in hills. The wise are active; the virtuous are tranquil. The wise are joyful; the virtuous are long-lived.”
Analects -
“Retrospection of his own life. From this phrase, alternative names for each decades of human life are derived in Chinese.”
Analects