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  Confucius was born in 551 BCE and is considered the most famous of the Chinese philosophers and the father of Confucianism. As a small child, Confucius lost his father, who was a soldier. He was raised in poverty by his mother, who instilled his love of learning. Confucius became a tireless learner and self-purported to have his “mind bent on learning” at the age of fifteen.

  Confucius was known to be a master of six arts – ritual, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and arithmetic. This knowledge allowed him to begin a successful teaching career in his thirties, and he eventually worked in government as an advisor and magistrate. During his government service, Confucius became frustrated that his ideas, which included making education more accessible, were not popular. This frustration motivated Confucius to leave his government job to travel through China and promote his teachings. By his death (of natural causes) at 73 he had 3,000 followers.

  The Analects - Book XV. Wei Ling Kung. - Chap. XXIII.
  Is there one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one’s life?” The Master said, “Is not Reciprocity such a word? What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.”

  The Analects - Book IV. Le Jin. - Chap. XXIII.
  The cautious seldom err.

  The Analects - Book XI. Hsien Tsin. - Chap. XI.
  While you do not know life, how can you know about death?

  The Analects - Book XIII. Tsze-Lu. - Chap. XVII.
  Do not be desirous to have things done quickly; do not look at small advantages. Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.

  The Analects - Book XIV. Hsien Wan. - Chap. XI.
  To be poor without murmuring is difficult. To be rich without being proud is easy.

  The Analects - Book IX. Tsze Han. - Chap. XXIV.
  Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles. Have no friends not equal to yourself. When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.

  The Analects - Book IV. Le Jin. - Chap. X.
  The superior man, in the world, does not set his mind either for anything, or against anything; what is right he will follow.

  The Analects - Book VI. Yung Yey. - Chap. XXVIII.
  Now 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. To be able to judge of others by what is nigh in ourselves; this may be called the art of virtue.

  The Analects - Book VIII. T'ai-Po. - Chap. XIII.
  When a country is well governed, poverty and a mean condition are things to be ashamed of. When a country is ill governed, riches and honor are things to be ashamed of.

  The Analects - Book XIV. Hsien Wan. - Chap. XXIX.
  The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.