With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow—I have still joy in the midst of these things. Riches and honors acquired by unrighteousness are to me as a floating cloud.

About Confucius

Confucius (c. 551 – c. 479 BCE), born Kong Qiu, was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Much of the shared cultural heritage of the Sinosphere originates in the philosophy and teachings of Confucius. His philosophical teachings, called...

More quotations from Confucius

Life leads the thoughtful man on
a path of many windings.
Now the course is checked,
now it runs straight again.
Here winged thoughts may pour
freely forth in words,
There the heavy burden of knowledge
must be shut away in
silence.
But when two people are at one
in their inmost hearts,
They shatter even the strength of iron or of bronze.
And when two people understand
each other in their inmost hearts,
Their words are sweet and strong,
like the fragrance of orchids.

—Confucius

I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand.

—Confucius

In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.

—Confucius

Study the past, if you would divine the future.

—Confucius

The man of virtue makes the difficulty to be overcome his first business, and success only a subsequent consideration.

—Confucius

success

History

25 Dec 2023 Added
26 Oct 2026 Wording changed

Previous wording

With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow - I have still joy in the midst of these things. Riches and honors acquired by unrighteousness are to me as a floating cloud.