"To rule with equity is like the North Star, which is fixed, and all the rest go round it."
"The essence of knowledge is, having it, to apply it; not having it, to confess your ignorance."
"Worship as though the Deity were present."
"If my mind is not engaged in my worship, it is as though I worshipped not."
"Formerly, in hearing men, I heard their words, and gave them credit for their conduct; now I hear their words, and observe their conduct."
"A man's life depends on virtue; if a bad man lives, it is only by good fortune."
"Some proceed blindly to action, without knowledge; I hear much, and select the best course."
He was once found fault with, when in office, for not opposing the marriage of a ruler with a distant relation, which was an offence against Chinese propriety. He said: "I am a happy man; if I have a fault, men observe it."
Confucius was humble. He said: "I cannot bear to hear myself called equal to the sages and the good. All that can be said of me is, that I study with delight the conduct of the sages, and instruct men without weariness therein."
"The good man is serene," said he, "the bad always in fear."