Success is a subjective concept that is defined differently by different people. For most people, “success” means achieving success and winning recognition, high positions, great wealth, or being surrounded by children and grandchildren.
Confucius, a famous statesman, educator, and thinker in ancient China and the founder of Confucianism,x was undoubtedly an outstanding winner and left significant effects on future generations.
How did Confucius understand success? In what ways was he successful?
Confucius discussed the meaning of success in depth with his disciples in public, and he explicitly proposed specific ideas about success.
However, Confucius’s success lies not only in his achievements but also in his contributions to human values, reform of education, and deep understanding of political governance.
Achievements of Confucius
Confucius’s success can mainly be manifested in areas of educational innovation, intellectual contributions, document sorting, and political propositions.
Firstly, Confucius founded private schools and advocated the educational concept of “teaching without discrimination” (有教无类), which broke the ruling class’s monopoly on education and offered education opportunities to common people.
Moreover, he proposed educational ideas such as “teaching students according to their aptitudes” and “learning something new while reviewing what he has learned,” which greatly enriched the content and form of education and laid the foundation for later education development.
Secondly, Confucius founded Confucianism. He promoted ideas like being people-oriented and benevolently loving others and advocated building a harmonious society based on the norms of Li.
His ideas have influenced Chinese society throughout history.
Thirdly, Confucius completed the collection and compilation of the six Confucian classics, including The Book of Songs, The Book of Documents, The Book of Rites, The Classics of Music, The Book of Changes, and The Spring and Autumn Annals, which are of great importance for the transmission of ancient Chinese culture.
Fourthly, Confucius’s political ideas were adopted and implemented by different rulers. He advocated a virtuous government, which required rulers to be aware of people’s conditions and sentiments, cherish their support, respect their rights, and oppose tyranny.
To a certain extent, these political views reflect the demands and aspirations of people and offer suggestions for rulers to improve the political system and social conditions of that time.
Fifthly, as a role model for future generations, Confucius spent his entire life pursuing truth and wisdom. His persistent spirit has also been admired and celebrated.
Confucius’s Quotes on Success
Confucius elaborated on his understanding of success. From his classic quotes, we can understand why his success is inevitable.
These quotes inspired his disciples and re-disciples to be active and courageous and provided practical guidance for later generations in their pursuit of success.
1. 苟志于仁矣，无恶也。(From The Analects of Confucius: Liren)
Phonetic transcription (Pinyin): ɡǒu zhì yú rén yǐ, wú è yě.
Translation: If a man, said the Master, has made up his mind to be good, he will do no wrong.
Interpretations: This saying tells us that one must first be kind to be successful. If a person is not benevolent, he is prone to doing something immoral, thus losing the trust and support of others. However, they cannot succeed without the help and support of others.
2. 朝闻道，夕死可矣。 (From The Analects of Confucius: Liren)
Phonetic transcription: zhāo wén dào, xī sǐ kě yǐ.
Translation: The Master said, “If a man in the morning hears the right way, he may die in the evening without regret.”
Interpretations: Confucius believed that to understand the laws of things was to achieve success. In his view, people can achieve harmony between the inner and outer worlds through a deep understanding of the nature of things, thus moving toward true success.
3. 巧言，令色，足恭，左丘明耻之，丘亦耻之。匿怨而友其人，左丘明耻之，丘亦耻之。 (From The Analects of Confucius: Gongye Chang)
Phonetic transcription: qiǎo yán, lìnɡ sè, zú ɡōnɡ, zuǒ qiū mínɡ chǐ zhī, qiū yì chǐ zhī. nì yuàn ér yǒu qí rén, zuǒ qiū mínɡ chǐ zhī, qiū yì chǐ zhī.
Translation: Flowery words, hypocritical deeds, excessive respect, said the Master, are shameful in the eyes of Zuo Qiuming, so are they in mine. To befriend those whom one resents is shameful in the eyes of Zuo Qiuming, so is it in mine.
Interpretations: According to Confucius, success requires an authentic self and an open heart. A person must be honest with himself and others to succeed in life and business.
4. 老者安之，朋友信之，少者怀之。 (From The Analects of Confucius: Gongye Chang)
Phonetic transcription: lǎo zhě ān zhī, pénɡ yǒu xìn zhī, shào zhě huái zhī.
Translation: The Master said, “I would comfort the old, be trusted by my friends, and be loved by the young.”
Interpretations: This quote describes Confucius’s ambition. If one can achieve his vision in social relationships, he can achieve great success in the long run.
5. 已矣乎！吾未见能见其过而内自讼者也。 (From The Analects of Confucius: Gongye Chang)
Phonetic transcription: yǐ yǐ hū! wú wèi jiàn nénɡ jiàn qí ɡuò ér nèi zì sònɡ zhě yě.
Translation: In vain, said the Master, have I looked for one who could find out his own faults and blame himself.
Interpretations: Throughout history, people have often been able to see the shortcomings of others, but they have consistently failed to realize their own mistakes. Those who can recognize and correct their own mistakes are considered successful.
6. 回也其心三月不违仁，其余则日月至焉而已矣。 (From The Analects of Confucius: Yongye)
Phonetic transcription: huí yě qí xīn sān yuè bù wéi rén, qí yú zé rì yuè zhì yān ér yǐ yǐ.
Translation: Yan Hui said the Master would not do anything against benevolence for three months on end. Others may do so, but only for a day or at most for a month.
Interpretations: This quote tells us that success does not come in one step but requires long-term efforts. Only through persistent efforts over a long period can one achieve their goals.
7. 子曰：“孟之反不伐，奔而殿，将入门，策其马，曰：非敢后也，马不进也。” (From The Analects of Confucius: Yongye)
Phonetic transcription: zǐ yuē: “mènɡ zhī fǎn bù fá, bēn ér diàn, jiānɡ rù mén, cè qí mǎ, yuē: fēi ɡǎn hòu yě, mǎ bù jìn yě.”
Translation: Meng Zhifan, said the Master, was no boaster. Once defeated, he was the last to retreat. He whipped up his horse near the city gate and said, “I am the last to retreat, not because I am brave, but because my horse is slow.”
Interpretations: Meng Zhifan’s success in combat is evident to all. But his understanding of the importance of humility is even more remarkable, which is an indispensable quality of a successful man.
8. 叶公问政。子曰：“近者悦，远者来。” (From The Analects of Confucius: Zi Lu)
Phonetic transcription: yè ɡōnɡ wèn zhèn. zǐ yuē: “jìn zhě yuè，yuǎn zhě lái.”
Translation: The Duke of She asked about the art of ruling. The Master said, “Make the near happy to stay and the far-off happy to come.”
Interpretations: This quote shows that a ruler or leader can evaluate the success of his management based on people’s reactions.