Confucius Quotes on Virtue
Confucian ethics centers on the cultivation of ren — humaneness or benevolence — as the virtue from which all the others follow, and on the figure of the junzi (gentleman or noble person) as its exemplar. The Analects record Confucius's teaching that ritual propriety (li), filial piety (xiao), and the rectification of names work together as the practical expression of ren in family and political life. The framework is virtue ethics in the strict sense: character is cultivated through deliberate practice within structured relationships, and the well-ordered self is the foundation of the well-ordered state.
Quotes
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“Do not do unto others what you do not want done to yourself.”
己所不欲，勿施於人 -
“The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”
君子欲訥於言而敏於行。 -
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.”
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Attributed to Confucius:
“What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.”
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Attributed to Confucius:
“Have no friends not equal to yourself.”
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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:
“Riches and honours are what men desire. If they cannot be obtained in the proper way, they should not be held.”
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“Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.”
以直報怨，以德報德。 -
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) -
“The superior man thinks of virtue ; the small man thinks of comfort . The superior man thinks of the sanctions of law ; the small man thinks of favors which he may receive.”
Analects | James Legge , translation (1893) -
“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 -
“A man's character is formed by the Odes, developed by the Rites and perfected by music.”
Analects | Quoted from Will Durant, Our Oriental Heritage. -
“The man of perfect virtue is cautious and slow in his speech. When a man feels the difficulty of doing, can he be other than cautious and slow in speaking?”
Analects | III -
“Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue.”
Analects -
“The Master said, "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."”
Analects -
“By the ruler's cultivation of his own character, the duties of universal obligation are set forth. By honoring men of virtue and talents, he is preserved from errors of judgment.”
The Doctrine of the Mean -
“See a person's means (of getting things). Observe his motives. Examine that in which he rests. How can a person conceal his character?”
Analects -
“See a person's "being", observe his motive, notice his result. How can a person conceal his character? [by 朱冀平]”
Analects