The Aphorisms of Confucius
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The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.
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Wherever you go, go with all your heart.
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When anger rises, think of the consequences.
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To know, is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge.
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The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.
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The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.
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Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.
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Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
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In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.
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If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?
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And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.
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When you know a thing, to hold that you know it, and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it - this is knowledge.
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When you are laboring for others let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself.
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When we see persons of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see persons of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.
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When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.
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What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.
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Virtuous people often revenge themselves for the constraints to which they submit by the boredom which they inspire.
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Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.
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To see the right and not to do it is cowardice.
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To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness.
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To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.
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To know what is right and not to do it is the worst cowardice.
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To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.
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To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.
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They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.
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The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.
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The wheel of fortune turns round incessantly, and who can say to himself, I shall to-day be uppermost.
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The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest; success only comes later.
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The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
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The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability that he has.
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The object of the superior man is truth.
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The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.
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The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.
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The cautious seldom err.
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The book salesman should be honored because he brings to our attention, as a rule, the very books we need most and neglect most.
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Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.
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Study the past, if you would divine the future.
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Speak the truth, do not yield to anger; give, if thou art asked for little; by these three steps thou wilt go near the gods.
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Silence is a true friend who never betrays.
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Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.
(( 5 ))
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Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
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One atom of the plane where He functions would shatter the world.
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Old age, believe me, is a good and pleasant thing. It is true you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator.
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No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.
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Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.
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Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.
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Look at the means which a man employs, consider his motives, observe his pleasures. A man simply cannot conceal himself!
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Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.
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It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.
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It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get.
(( 6 ))
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It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop.
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Instead of being concerned that you have no office, be concerned to think how you may fit yourself for office. Instead of being concerned that you are not known, see to the (be?) worthy of being known.
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If we don't know life, how can we know death?
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If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.
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I will not be concerned at other men's not knowing me;I will be concerned at my own want of ability.
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I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand.
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I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
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Heaven means to be one with God.
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He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.
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He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.
(( 7 ))
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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.
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Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs.
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Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.
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Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
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Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honors depend upon heaven.
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Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
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By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.
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Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
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