"The superior man does what is proper to the station in which he is; he does not desire to go beyond this. In a position of wealth and honor, he does what is proper to a position of wealth and honor. In a poor and low position, he does what is proper to a poor and low position. Situated among barbarous tribes, he does what is proper to a situation among barbarous tribes. In a position of sorrow and difficulty, he does what is proper to a position of sorrow and difficulty. The superior man can find himself in no situation in which he is not himself. In a high situation, he does not treat with contempt his inferiors. In a low situation, he does not court the favor of his superiors. He rectifies himself, and seeks for nothing from others, so that he has no dissatisfactions. He does not murmur against Heaven, nor grumble against men. Thus it is that the superior man is quiet and calm, waiting for the appointments of Heaven, while the mean man walks in dangerous paths, looking for lucky occurrences."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Spiritual teachersFounders of religionsPhilosophers from ChinaHistorians from ChinaEducators from China
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Imported from EN Wikiquote
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Confucius
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Confucius
Confucius (traditionally 28 September 551 B.C. – 479 B.C.) was a Chinese social philosopher, whose teachings deeply influenced East Asian life and thought. "Confucius" is a latinization of the Chinese 孔夫子, Kong Fu Zi or K'ung-fu-tzu, literally "Master Kong", but he is usually referred to in China with a simpler version of this honorific as 孔子, Kongzi, or Kǒng Zǐ.
159 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Confucius →
Related Quotes
"La natura può più dell'arte."
"Ei se helevettikhän niin kuuma ole ku pappi sen saarnaa. (Kemi, Lapland) (KRA)"
"Nature outweighing art begets roughness; art outweighing nature begets pedantry. Art and nature well blent make a gen…"
"由,誨女知之乎,知之為知之,不知為不知,是知也。"
"人而不仁、如禮何。人而不仁、如樂何。"
"多聞闕疑,慎言其餘,則寡尤。多見闕殆,慎行其餘,則寡悔。言寡無,行寡悔,祿在其中矣。"
"非其鬼而祭之,諂也。見義不為,無勇也。"
"吾十有五而志於學,三十而立,四十而不惑,五十而知天命,六十而耳順,七十而从心所欲,不逾矩。"
"溫故而知新,可以為師矣。"
"When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them."