20 famous Confucius quotes that will make you reflect on your life

Confucius was a Chinese philosopher who lived between 600-500 BC and whose thinking has profoundly influenced the development of culture, history, and lifestyles of most Asian countries.

Consequently, any philosophical doctrine that came after Confucius, could not help but confront the thoughts of this "founding figure". 

In general, Confucius tried to provide a series of indications about the best way in which a person can live by seeking self-realization and making their contribution to building a prosperous and harmonious human society. 

Here are some of his most famous quotes - to get and keep you inspired! ;)

via goodreads.com

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• 1. "Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you, or do not do to yourself what you would not do to others."
• 2. "When the wise man points to the moon, the fool looks at his finger." 
• 3. "Never give up if you want to go back home." 
• 4. "Be like  sandalwood, which perfumes the ax that cuts it." 
• 5. "Before starting a vendetta, dig two graves."

Agencia de Noticias ANDES - TEMPLO DE CONFUCIO/wikimedia

• 6. "When the goal seems difficult to you, do not change your goal, look for a new way to reach it." 
• 7. "Give a man a fish and he'll eat one day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime."
• 8. "All the good things are hard to find and all the bad things are very easy to find."
• 9. "A man who does not think or plan his future will see problems come right to his own door." 
• 10. "Being prudent does not exclude being brave."

Encyclopedia Britannica./wikimedia

• 11. "Just as water takes the form of the container that holds it, a wise man must adapt to the circumstances." 
• 12. "Life is very simple, but we insist on making it complicated."
• 13. "Silence is a true friend who never betrays."
• 14. "Be very demanding of yourself, but do not expect much from others, this will spare you resentment and disappointments." 
• 15. "Expect the unexpected and accept the unacceptable."

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• 16. "The best index of wisdom is the agreement between words and deeds." 
• 17. "Do not try to extinguish a fire with fire, or to stop a flood with water." 
• 18. "The only thing that is never recovered in life when it is lost, is the time spent."
• 19. "Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation, there is sure to be failure." 
• 20. "We can become wise in three different ways: First, through reflection - the noblest, second, through imitation - the easiest, and third, through experience - the most bitter."