Speak the truth, do not yield to anger; give, if thou art asked for little; by these three steps thou wilt go near the gods.
ConfuciusRead
A gentleman is ashamed to let his words outrun his deeds.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A true gentleman ensures that his actions match his words.
This quote by Confucius highlights the importance of integrity and accountability. It emphasizes that a person of good character is embarrassed when their statements are not supported by their actions, suggesting that one should always strive to align their words with their deeds to maintain respect and credibility.
Themes
IntegrityActionsWordsCharacterGentleman
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about leadership, one could use this quote to emphasize the need for leaders to act on their promises.
More from Confucius
All quotes βEarnest 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.
ConfuciusRead
When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points.
ConfuciusRead
Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.
ConfuciusRead
The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability that he has.
ConfuciusRead
Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.
ConfuciusRead
Similar quotes
To exchange one orthodoxy for another is not necessarily an advance. The enemy is the gramophone mind, whether or not one agrees with the record that is being played at the moment.
George OrwellRead
Language for me narrates the pictures in my mind. When I work on designing livestock equipment I can test run that equipment in my head like 3-D virtual reality. In fact, when I was in college I used to think that everybody was able to do that.
Temple GrandinRead
For many people, one of the most frustrating aspects of life is not being able to understand other people's behavior.
Johann Wolfgang Von GoetheRead
To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it.
Gilbert K. ChestertonRead
The blackness he woke to on those nights was sightless and impenetrable. A blackness to hurt your ears with listening. Often he had to get up. No sound but the wind in the trees. He rose and stood tottering in that cold autistic dark with his arms outheld for balance while the vestibular calculations in his skull cranked out their reckonings.
Cormac MccarthyRead
Synchronicity is choreographed by a great, pervasive intelligence that lies at the heart of nature, and is manifest in each of us through intuitive knowledge.
Deepak ChopraRead