Confucius (551–479 BC) was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher. His philosophy emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity.
However, most people hearing the name Confucious – connected to sayings – think only of the one-liners that have somehow evolved, turning this wise philosopher into a figure of fun.
“Man go to bed with itchy bum; wake up with smelly finger”, is NOT a genuine Confucious saying!
Confucius’s principles had a basis in common Chinese tradition and belief. He championed strong family loyalty, ancestor worship, respect of elders by their children and of husbands by their wives.
Sadly, most of those values have not survived to the modern world. However, various adaptations of one basic principle he espoused have survived. He proclaimed an early version of the so called Golden Rule: “Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.”
Browse our selection of the real sayings of Confucious to change your view of him:
- Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
- Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
- When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.
- Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.
- Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
- I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
- He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.
- When anger rises, think of the consequences
- Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?
- You cannot open a book without learning something.
- What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.
- The cautious seldom err.
So those are the genuine sayings of Confucious.
In the future we will publish an article illustrating the somewhat less respectful versions.
How do you feel about the real ones? Do you live by the Golden Rule?
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