Confucius was born in 551 BCE and became one of the most influential people in history. He is credited with creating Confucianism, emphasising family values and social order. In addition, he wrote extensively on topics such as decency, righteousness, wisdom, courage and human nature.
He had a deep interest in education reform for children, teaching them how to be good citizens even if they were not planning to enter politics or military service.
In this blog post, we look at some famous quotes from Confucius and implement them in different aspects of our lives.
1. “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius
Confucius was a great believer in self-education. He felt that everyone could expand their knowledge if they worked hard enough. Of course, we may make mistakes, especially when trying something new, but he believed that each mistake holds within an opportunity to learn and improve.
2. “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.” – Confucius
Confucius saw that empathy towards other people was the key to a happier life. By understanding how another person feels about something, we are better suited to navigate any complicated situations with them. Moreover, if they know we understand them, they will be more likely to cooperate and behave in a friendly manner.
3. “He who will not economise will have to agonise.” – Confucius
Confucius believed that we could improve any area of our lives by learning certain disciplines such as frugality (economising). This belief is shared by many other successful people, including Benjamin Franklin, who used this quote to demonstrate how he became one of the richest men in America.
4. “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius
Confucius believed that improving any area of your life requires persistence. It is not about being perfect but about repeatedly trying until we reach our goal. We may not be able to do it once or twice, but eventually, our efforts will pay off.
5. “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.” – Confucius
Confucius had an insatiable thirst for knowledge even though he was already in his 50s when he started to make a name in society. Although we can never know everything about any subject, we should keep learning and expanding our knowledge base by reading books, listening to podcasts or attending seminars.
6. “A man who has committed a mistake and doesn’t correct it is committing another mistake.” – Confucius
Confucius believed that if we make a mistake, it is better to be straightforward and correct it immediately. If not, we may lose face in front of others who think of us as indecisive or incompetent. Even if the mistake was small or unintended, doing nothing will only prevent you from learning what you could have done better in the future.
7. “The cautious seldom err.” – Confucius
Confucius was famous for seeing opportunities in even the most difficult of situations. Whenever others were deciding on whether to do something, he would be the one who said, “I will try.” But, unfortunately, opportunities don’t always come around again, and we have to be willing to take the leap of faith to get what we want.
8. “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
Confucius was realistic about everything he did, even if it meant taking his time before achieving something. We should set challenging goals for ourselves but still be willing to take our time to do everything properly. This quote can serve as a warning not to be too hasty in rushing towards your dreams, especially if it could hurt others.
9. “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” – Confucius
Confucius believed that there are no shortcuts to any place worth going. We should never get our hopes up too high or plan to achieve something that would hurt others because the act of revenge will ultimately turn against us. If you want to do something important in your life, work hard towards it rather than getting into useless fights that only drag you down.
10. “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” – Confucius
Confucius knew that no matter how difficult things may seem, they are always simpler than we expect. We usually complicate our thinking by coming up with complex solutions to simple problems. If you feel overwhelmed about something, take a step back and try to see the solution if you were to take a fresh look at it.
Which of the above quotes from Confucius do you find most inspiring?