Confucius Quotes About Virtue
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If the people are governed by laws and punishment is used to maintain order, they will try to avoid the punishment but have no sense of shame. If they are governed by virtue and rules of propriety are used to maintain order, they will have a sense of shame and will become good as well.
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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.
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The superior man... does not set his mind either for or against anything, he will pursue whatever is right. The superior man thinks of virtue, the common man of comfort.
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In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations, they first harmonized their families. Wishing to harmonize their families, they first cultivated themselves. Wishing to cultivate themselves, they first rectified their minds. Those who wished to rectify their minds first made their intentions sincere.
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To know your faults and be able to change is the greatest virtue.
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The Master said, I set my heart on the Way, base myself on virtue, lean upon benevolence for support and take my recreation in the arts.
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The contrived language and the flattering attitude rarely come with the virtue.
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The higher type of man clings to virtue, the lower type of man clings to material comfort. The higher type of man cherishes justice, the lower type of man cherishes the hope of favors to be received.
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Those who make virtue their profession are the ruin of virtue.
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To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.
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Those who are firm, enduring, simple and unpretentious are the nearest to virtue.
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Only by perfect virtue can the perfect path, in all its courses, be made a fact.
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Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.
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Virtuous people often revenge themselves for the constraints to which they submit by the boredom which they inspire.
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He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.
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What the great learning teaches, is to illustrate illustrious virtue; to renovate the people; and to rest in the highest excellence.
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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.
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Earnest in practicing the ordinary virtues, and careful in speaking about them, if, in his practice, he has anything defective, the superior man dares not but exert himself; and if, in his words, he has any excess, he dares not allow himself such license.
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The determined scholar and the man of virtue will not seek to live at the expense of injuring their virtue. They will even sacrifice their lives to preserve their virtue complete.
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The man of perfect virtue, wishing to be established himself, seeks also to establish others; wishing to be enlarged himself, he seeks also to enlarge others.
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If you devote your life to seeking revenge, first dig two graves.
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The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.
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A man who has committed a mistake and does not correct it is committing another mistake.
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Think no vice so small that you may commit it, and no virtue so small that you may over look it.
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How great is the path proper to the Sage! Like overflowing water, it sends forth and nourishes all things, and rises up to the height of heaven. All-complete is its greatness! It embraces the three hundred rules of ceremony, and the three thousand rules of demeanor. It waits for the proper man, and then it is trodden. Hence it is said, 'Only by perfect virtue can the perfect path, in all its courses, be made a fact.'
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Is any one able for one day to apply his strength to virtue? I have not seen the case in which his strength would be sufficient.
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I have never seen a man as fond of virtue as of women.
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Guide them by edicts, keep them in line with punishments, and the common people will stay out of trouble but will have no sense of shame. Guide them by virtue, keep them in line with the rites, and they will, besides having a sense of shame, reform themselves.
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People with virtue must speak out; People who speak are not all virtuous.
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Exemplary people concern themselves with virtue, small people concern themselves with territory. The ruling class thinks of punishment, the lower classes hope for benevolence.
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