Confucius is a great thinker and educator in Chinese history and a treasure of the Chinese nation. His ideas have influenced Chinese culture for more than 2,500 years. His outlook on life encompasses many values, including Ren (仁), Yi (义), Li (礼), Zhi (智), Xin (信), and Xiao (孝), which construct Confucius’s philosophy of life.
Confucius’s thoughts on life coincide with the direction of moral education in modern pedagogy, providing valuable guidance for students to grow and become successful.
In short, with profound wisdom and unique insights, Confucius reveals life’s true meanings and values and leads us toward a better future.
Confucius’s View of Life
Regarding his outlook on life, Confucius strongly advocates “The Doctrine of the Mean” (中庸) and makes it the highest standard by which one’s behavior should be measured. He believes that one should treat people fairly and decently, consider all parties’ interests, and harmonize the interrelationships between things.
He also emphasizes the importance of self-improvement and self-cultivation. He advocates that “a superior man makes demands upon himself” (The Analects of Confucius: Duke Ling of Wey). That is, he demands that people make continuous progress and improvement for themselves.
At the same time, Confucius also values learning from others‘ strengths and compensating for their weaknesses. This humble and studious attitude is also essential to his educational philosophy.
Moreover, Confucius considers upholding justice the highest value in life. He emphasizes being contented in poverty, devoted to spiritual matters, and doing good to others.
He believes it is better to be poor than lose one’s morality. The thought that “Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you” (The Analects of Confucius: Duke Ling of Wey) profoundly embodies his code of conduct of treating others with generosity and sincerity.
16 Popular Quotes of Confucius about Life
Most of Confucius’s quotations on his outlook on life are recorded in the book The Analects of Confucius, an anthology of quotations compiled by his disciples and their successors. This anthology records his profound thoughts and insights on life, morality, and codes of conduct.
Below are sixteen quotes from The Analects of Confucius about Confucius’s outlook on life, most of which come from conversations between Confucius and his disciples.
1. 亡而为有，虚而为盈，约而为泰，难乎有恒矣。 (From The Analects of Confucius: Shui Er)
Phonetic transcription: wánɡ ér wéi yǒu, xū ér wéi yínɡ, yuē ér wéi tài, nán hū yǒu hénɡ yǐ.
Translation: A consistent man will not take nothing for something, nor the empty for the full, nor the poor for the rich. Otherwise, he cannot be called a consistent man.
Interpretation:
In this quote, Confucius criticized hypocrisy. He emphasizes the attitude of seeking truth from facts and opposes false, pompous, and impractical behavior. Only a truthful, honest, and trustworthy attitude can win the trust and respect of others and make one’s behavior long-lastingly recognized and supported.
2. 吾十有五而志于学，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳顺，七十而从心所欲，不逾矩。(From The Analects of Confucius: The Way of Governance)
Phonetic transcription: wú shí yǒu wǔ ér zhì yú xué, sān shí ér lì, sì shí ér bú huò, wǔ shí ér zhī tiān mìnɡ, liù shí ér ěr shùn, qī shí ér cónɡ xīn suǒ yù, bù yú jǔ.
Translation: At fifteen, I set my heart on learning. At thirty, I stood firm. At forty, I had no doubts. At fifty, I knew the mandate of heaven. At sixty, I heard them with docile ears. At seventy, I could follow the dictates of my own heart, for what I desired no longer transgressed what was right.
Interpretation:
In this passage, Confucius describes his process of learning and improving his cultivation. He believes that one’s moral cultivation will not be formed overnight but be a gradual process that requires a long period of study and exercise.
In addition, the highest state of morality is the integration of thoughts, words, and deeds. One has to consciously abide by moral codes rather than do so reluctantly. These two points suit anyone.
3. 人无远虑，必有近忧。 (From The Analects of Confucius: Duke Ling of Wey)
Phonetic transcription: rén wú yuǎn lǜ, bì yǒu jìn yōu.
Translation: A man without foresight will have immediate worries.
Interpretations:
This quote is significant in ruling the country. Thinking of danger in times of peace has been the basic idea of governing the country, and it is also an essential part of the excellent culture of the Chinese nation.
For instance, if you are prepared before you speak, you will not be semantically impaired; if you are ready before you do something, you will not encounter difficulties.
4. 贫而无怨，难；富而无骄，易。 (From The Analects of Confucius: Questions of Xian)
Phonetic transcription: pín ér wú yuàn, nán; fù ér wú jiāo, yì.
Translation: To be poor without murmuring is difficult. To be rich without being proud is easy.
Interpretation:
This quote expresses Confucius’s understanding and expectation of moral cultivation at different stages of life. He believes that people should maintain a calm mind and a modest attitude, whether they are poor or rich.
5. 道不同，不相为谋。(From The Analects of Confucius: Duke Ling of Wey)
Phonetic transcription: dào bù tónɡ, bù xiānɡ wéi móu.
Translation: Different paths do not conspire against each other.
Interpretations:
This saying is often viable in modern society as a metaphor for the phenomenon that people with different opinions and interests cannot work together or for the fact that there are many ways to achieve a goal.
The quote also reminds us of the need to respect individual values and beliefs and avoid conflicts in cooperation. In teamwork, we should find common ground, establish common goals, and respect differences to collaborate better.
6. 君子坦荡荡，小人长戚戚。 (From The Analects of Confucius: Shui Er)
Phonetic transcription: jūn zǐ tǎn dànɡ dànɡ, xiǎo rén zhǎnɡ qī qī.
Translation: A gentleman is straightforward, while a villain is sorrowful.
Interpretation:
It tells us that open-mindedness is a life discipline. People cannot solve problems when they are immersed in sadness and sorrow. We can achieve ultimate happiness only by keeping optimistic and hard-working.
7. 过而不改，是谓过矣。(From The Analects of Confucius: Duke Ling of Wey)
Phonetic transcription: ɡuò ér bù ɡǎi, shì wèi ɡuò yǐ.
Translation: Not to mend the fault one has made is to err indeed.
Interpretation:
This quote expresses Confucius’s deep understanding of human nature and morality. He believes it is an essential quality for people to reflect on and correct their mistakes.
At the same time, it also reminds us that in our daily life, we should keep a humble and open mind, be brave enough to admit our mistakes and correct them in time in case of more serious problems.
8. 其为人也孝弟，而好犯上者，鲜矣；不好犯上，而好作乱者，未之有也。君子务本，本立而道生。孝弟也者，其为仁之本与！(From The Analects of Confucius: Xue Er)
Phonetic transcription: qí wéi rén yě xiào dì, ér hǎo fàn shànɡ zhě, xiǎn yǐ; bù hǎo fàn shànɡ, ér hǎo zuò luàn zhě, wèi zhī yǒu yě. jūn zǐ wù běn, běn lì ér dào shēnɡ. xiào dì yě zhě, qí wéi rén zhī běn yǔ！
Translation: A man who is a good son and a good citizen will seldom be found to be a man disposed to quarrel with those in authority over him, and men who are not disposed to quarrel with those in authority will never be found to disturb the peace and order of the State. A wise man devotes his attention to what is essential in the foundation of life, When the foundation is laid, wisdom will come. Now, to be a good son and a good citizen – do not these form the foundation of a moral life?
Interpretation:
This passage emphasizes the relationship between filial piety, fraternal duty, and benevolence in Confucianism.
It advocates that a gentleman should commit to practicing filial piety and fraternal duty to establish good interpersonal relationships and social order.
9. 君子不重则不威，学则不固。主忠信，无友不如己者，过则勿惮改。(From The Analects of Confucius: Xue Er)
Phonetic transcription: jūn zǐ bù zhònɡ zé bù wēi, xué zé bù ɡù. zhǔ zhōnɡ xìn, wú yǒu bù rú jǐ zhě, ɡuò zé wù dàn ɡǎi.
Translation: If the scholar is not grave, he will not call forth any veneration, and his learning will not be solid. Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles. Have no friends not equal to yourself. When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.
Interpretation:
In this sentence, Confucius puts forward five requirements for a Junzi. Firstly, a Junzi should be dignified in his attitude; Secondly, he should be a good learner; Thirdly, he should be honest and trustworthy; Fourthly, he should learn from the virtuous and the wise; Fifthly, he should know his mistakes and correct them.
He emphasizes that a gentleman should be self-respecting and not drift into frivolity; otherwise, he would be despised. In today’s society, we should also value and cultivate these qualities.
10. 知者不惑，仁者不忧，勇者不惧。(From The Analects of Confucius: Zihan)
Phonetic transcription: zhī zhě bú huò, rén zhě bù yōu, yǒnɡ zhě bù jù.
Translation: The knowledgeable can never be misled, the benevolent seldom worry, and the brave have no fear.
Interpretations:
When a person profoundly understands the true meaning of being a human being, he will begin to improve himself, face the sorrows and joys of life calmly, no longer seek their troubles, and face the difficulties and challenges bravely.
11. 君子求诸己，小人求诸人。(From The Analects of Confucius: Duke Ling of Wey)
Phonetic transcription: jūn zǐ qiú zhū jǐ, xiǎo rén qiú zhū rén.
Translation: The superior man makes demands upon himself; The inferior man makes demands upon others.
Interpretation:
This quote conveys the importance of self-awareness and introspection. Confucius emphasizes the different attitudes of the gentleman and the villain in dealing with problems and improving themselves. Gentlemen take themselves as their standard and constantly pursue inner moral improvement and self-improvement.
The villain, on the other hand, often focuses on others’ faults and lacks in-depth introspection and self-improvement.
12. 不义而富且贵，于我如浮云。 (From The Analects of Confucius: Shui Er)
Phonetic transcription: bù yì ér fù qiě ɡuì, yú wǒ rú fú yún.
Translation: Wealth and rank attained through immoral means are to me as empty as floating clouds.
Interpretation:
According to Confucius, it is human nature to pursue wealth, but this pursuit must be based on moral principles. Acquiring wealth and status through legitimate means, such as one’s efforts, wisdom, and talents, is permissible.
Only when these efforts are justly rewarded can the accumulated wealth be justified. Any pursuit of wealth against moral principles is undesirable.
13. 己所不欲，勿施于人。(From The Analects of Confucius: Yan Yuan)
Phonetic transcription: jǐ suǒ bú yù, wù shī yú rén.
Translation: Do not do unto others what you would not want done unto you.
Interpretation:
This statement unveils an essential principle in dealing with relationships.
According to Confucius, one should treat others concerning how one treats oneself. One should not be narrow-minded when dealing with others, but they should be generous and forgiving. If one hates something and pushes it on others, it will damage their relationship and lead to stagnant and unmanageable circumstances.
This principle should be adhered to in interactions between people, as it reflects respect for others and treating them as equals. By practicing this philosophy, people can build more harmonious social relationships.
14. 见贤思齐焉，见不贤而内自省也。(From The Analects of Confucius: Liren)
Phonetic transcription: jiàn xián sī qí yān, jiàn bù xián ér nèi zì xǐnɡ yě.
Translation: When we see a man of virtue and talent, we should think of equalling them; when we see a man of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.
Interpretation:
In this quote, Confucius mentions a vital method of moral cultivation: self-reflection. Through regular self-examination, we can not only remove our inner distractions but also evaluate ourselves more rationally.
In this way, we can discover and correct our shortcomings more quickly, thus improving our morality. By profoundly reflecting on our behaviors and thoughts, we can improve ourselves, build more harmonious interpersonal relationships, and avoid unnecessary conflicts.
15. 躬自厚而薄责于人，则远怨矣。(From The Analects of Confucius: Duke Ling of Wey)
Phonetic transcription: ɡōnɡ zì hòu ér bó zé yú rén, zé yuǎn yuàn yǐ.
Translation: Severe with oneself and lenient with others, one will be far from their complaint.
Interpretation:
This saying asks people to pay attention to their cultivation in daily life, be strict with themselves, be lenient with others, and avoid generating grudges.
Conflicts and misunderstandings are common in interpersonal communication. Therefore, we should be generous and kind to understand and tolerate others’ shortcomings instead of complaining about them.
16. 君子成人之美，不成人之恶，小人反是。(From The Analects of Confucius: Yan Yuan)
Phonetic transcription: jūn zǐ chénɡ rén zhī měi，bù chénɡ rén zhī è，xiǎo rén fǎn shì.
Translation: A superior man helps fulfill others’ cherished hopes, he does not help fulfill others’ cherished evils.
Interpretation:
This quote concerns Confucius’s description of a gentleman’s code of conduct. A gentleman should possess noble moral qualities, appreciate the merits of others, and fulfill their good deeds rather than help them do bad things.
This code of conduct represents a gentleman’s kindness and patience, reflecting the Confucian concept that “the benevolent love others.”