Confucius Quotes on Mind
Confucius treated the cultivation of the mind as a practical and moral discipline, and the quotes gathered here, drawn largely from the Analects, show its main features. His best-known maxim on the subject balances two faculties that must work together: learning without thought is labour lost, while thought without learning is perilous. For Confucius the mind is trained through constant self-examination, especially in the presence of others, for when one meets a person of worth one should think of how to equal him, and when one meets a lesser character, turn inward and examine oneself. He also counselled reflection as a check on impulse, advising that when anger rises, one think of the consequences. The page includes several translations of these closely related sayings.
Quotes
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“Learning without thought is labour lost; thought without learning is perilous.”
學而不思則罔，思而不學則殆。 -
Attributed to Confucius:
“When you see a man of worth, think of how to equal him; when you see a man of unworthy character, examine yourself.”
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Attributed to Confucius:
“When anger rises, think of the consequences.”
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“When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.”
Analects | James Legge , translation (1893) -
“When you meet someone better than yourself, turn your thoughts to becoming his equal. When you meet someone not as good as you are, look within and examine your own self.”
Analects | Dim Cheuk Lau translation (1979) -
“When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points.”
Analects | As quoted in Liberating Faith : Religious Voices for Justice, Peace, and Ecological Wisdom (2003) by Roger S. Gottlieb, p. 24 -
“There is the love of knowing without the love of learning; the beclouding here leads to dissipation of mind.”
Analects -
“The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.”
Attributed to Confucius in Out of the Blue: Delight Comes Into Our Lives (1996) by Mark Victor Hansen, Barbara Nichols, and Patty Hansen, p. 93