Confucius, aka Kong Qiu, Zhongni, K'ung Fu-tzu or Kong Fuzi

Don?t worry about not being acknowledged by others; worry about failing to acknowledge them.

In mourning, it is better to express real grief than to worry over formal details.

To know what you know and know what you do not know?this then is wisdom.

Exemplary persons are easy to serve but difficult to please. If one tries to please them with conduct that is not consistent with Dao (noble path, the way), they will not be pleased. In employing others, they use them according to their abilities. Petty persons are difficult to serve but easy to please. If one tries to please them with conduct that is not consistent with the way, they will be pleased anyway. But in employing others, they expect them to be good at everything.

It?s rare indeed for someone to go wrong due to personal restraint.

To take doing one?s utmost, making good on one?s word, and seeking out what is appropriate as one?s main concerns, is to accumulate excellence.

Exemplary persons are steadfast in the face of adversity, while petty persons are engulfed by it.

Ji Kangzi was troubled by the number of thieves, and asked Confucius for advice. Confucius replied to him, If you yourself were not so greedy, the people could not be paid to steal.

Wealth and honor are what people want, but if they are the consequence of deviating from Dao (noble path, the way), I would have no part in them. Poverty and disgrace are what people deplore, but if they are the consequence of staying on the way, I would not avoid them.

Exemplary persons associating openly with others are not partisan; petty persons being partisan do not associate openly with others.

Learning without due reflection leads to perplexity.

Where everyone despises a person, you must look into the matter carefully; when everyone celebrates a person, you must also look into it carefully.

Exemplary persons cherish fairness; petty persons cherish the thought of gain.

Make an earnest commitment to the love of learning.

You want to become the kind of counselor who is an exemplary person, not the kind that is a petty person.

Exemplary persons do not promote others because of what they say, nor do they reject what is said because of who says it.

Not yet understanding life, how could you understand death?

Exemplary persons help out the needy; they do not make the rich richer.

Raise up the true and place them over the crooked, and the allegiance of the people will be yours; raise up the crooked and place them over the true, and the people will not be yours.

Exemplary persons understand what is appropriate; petty persons understand what is of personal advantage.

Set an example yourself for those in office, pardon minor offenses, and promote those with superior character and ability.

An exemplary person defers on matters he does not understand. When names are not used properly, language will not be used effectively; when language is not used effectively, matters will not be taken care of.

Exemplary persons would feel shame if their words were better than their deeds.

Study as though you cannot catch up to it, and as though you fear you are going to lose it.

Confucius is driven by such eagerness to teach and learn that he forgets to eat, he enjoys himself so much that he forgets to worry, and does not even realize that old age is on its way.