Confucius (孔子, 551BC–479BC)
Confucius (Chinese: 孔子; pinyin: Kǒng Zǐ; Wade–Giles: K'ung-tzu, or Chinese: 孔夫子; pinyin: Kǒng Fūzǐ; Wade–Giles: K'ung-fu-tzu), literally "Master Kong", (traditionally 28 September 551 BC – 479 BC) was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period.
The philosophy of Confucius emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity. These values gained prominence in China over other doctrines, such as Legalism (法家) or Taoism (道家) during the Han Dynasty (206 BC – AD 220). Confucius' thoughts have been developed into a system of philosophy known as Confucianism (儒家).
Because no texts are demonstrably authored by Confucius, and the ideas most closely associated with him were elaborated in writings that accumulated over the period between his death and the foundation of the first Chinese empire in 221 BC, many scholars are very cautious about attributing specific assertions to Confucius himself. His teachings may be found in the Analects of Confucius (論語), a collection of aphorisms, which was compiled many years after his death. For nearly 2,000 years he was thought to be the editor or author of all the Five Classics (五經) such as the Classic of Rites (禮記) (editor), and the Spring and Autumn Annals (春秋) (author).
Confucius' principles had a basis in common Chinese tradition and belief. He championed strong familial loyalty, ancestor worship, respect of elders by their children (and, according to later interpreters, of husbands by their wives), and the family as a basis for an ideal government. He expressed the well-known principle, "Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself", one of the earlier versions of the Ethic of reciprocity.
Quotes·Quotation by Confucius(孔子)
Attitude
¶ 放於而利行多怨。 [論語]
Carrying out anything for personal profit will mostly bring about hatred and bitterness. [the Analects of Confucius]
¶ 成事不說, 遂事不諫, 旣往不咎。 [論語 八佾]
That which has been done should not need to be explained again; that which has its course fixed need not be remonstrated against; that which has passed need not be blamed on anyone. [the Analects of Confucius: Ba Yi]
¶ 成事不說, 遂事不諫, 旣往不咎。
Things that are done, it is needless to speak about...things that are past, it is needless to blame.
¶ 見賢思齊焉，見不賢而內自省也。
When you see a good man, try to emulate his example, and when you see a bad man, search yourself for his faults.
Beauty, 美
¶ 万物皆有其美,唯慧眼能识之。
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
Belief
¶ 主忠信。
Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.
Benevolence, 仁
¶ 仁者先難而後獲，可謂仁矣。
Benevolence involves being the first to volunteer for a difficult job and the last to think about rewards and recognition.
¶ 富與貴 是人之所欲也 不以其道得之 不處也。 貧與賤 是人之小惡也 不以其道得之 不去也 君子去仁 惡乎成名 君子無終食之閒違仁 造次必於是 顚沛必於是。 [論語 里仁]
Wealth and position are the desires of everyone. But one would rather not have it if to attain it requires the use of unscrupulous means. No one wants to be poor and obscure but the gentleman does not employ dishonest means to escape from it. How can a gentleman who has abandoned morality be known as a gentleman? A gentleman will under no circumstances forget to practice benevolence and morality. [the Analects of Confucius: Li Ren]
Confidence
¶ 後生可畏 焉知來者之不如今也。
A youth is to be regarded with respect. How do you know that his future will not be equal to our present?
¶ Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
¶ Respect yourself and others will respect you.
Failure
¶ 知之者不如好之者。
He who merely knows right principles is not equal to him who loves them.
Forgiveness
¶ 在开始你的复仇之旅前，先挖两个坟墓。
Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.
¶ Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.
Friend·Friendship, Friend, Friendship
¶ Have no friends not equal to yourself.
¶ 有朋自遠方來 不亦樂乎。
Isn't it great when friends visit from afar?
Honor
¶ 為政以德 譬如北辰居其所而眾星共之。
He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.
Knowledge·Wisdom, Knowledge
¶ 知之爲知之 不知爲不知 是知也。
When you know a thing, to hold that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it - this is knowledge.
Life
¶ 見賢思齊焉，見不賢而內自省也。
When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.
¶ 未能事人 焉能事鬼 未知生, 焉知死。
While you are not able to serve men, how can you serve spirits? While you do not know life, how can you know about death?
Solitude·Self-reliance
¶ 善人 吾不得而見之矣. 得見有恒者 斯可矣. 亡而爲有 虛爲盈, 約而爲泰 難乎有恒矣。 [論語 述而]
A faultless man I cannot hope to meet. The most I can hope for is to meet a man of principles. I see the shallow pretending to be man of substance, the improvident pretending to be affluent, even a man of principles will not be easy to find. [the Analects of Confucius: Shu Er]
Study
¶ 學而不思則罔思而不學則殆。
He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.
¶ I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
Success
¶ 仁者先難而後獲。
The man of virtue makes the difficulty to be overcome his first business, and success only a subsequent consideration.
¶ 君子求諸己 小人求諸人。
What the superior man seeks is in himself. What the mean man seeks is in others.
Virtue, 仁
¶ 我未見好仁者惡不仁者 好仁者無以尙之。
I have not seen a person who loved virtue, or one who hated what was not virtuous. He who loved virtue would esteem nothing above it.
Wisdom
¶ 我非生而知之者 好古敏以求之者也。
I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge; I am one who is fond of antiquity, and earnest in seeking it there.
¶ 君子之於天下也 無適也 無莫也 義之與比。
The superior man does not set his mind either for anything, or against anything; what is right he will follow.
Work
¶ Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
Writing·Reading
¶ 詩三百 一言而蔽之 曰思無邪。 [論語 爲政]
The book of Poetry contains three hundred entries, if I had to summarize the teachings of the book in one sentence, it would read: 'A pure and untainted mind. [the Analects of Confucius]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius
