Sayings from the Analects

WHILE a man’s father is alive, look at the bent of his will; when his father is dead, look at his conduct.

An accomplished scholar is not a cooking-pot.

When good order prevailed in his country, Ning Wu acted the part of a wise man; when his country was in disorder, he acted the part of a fool. Others may equal his wisdom, but they cannot equal his folly.

How can one know about death, when one does not understand life?

Four horses cannot overtake the tongue.

If you were not covetous, you could not even bribe a man to steal from you.

When their betters love the Rules [of Propriety], then the folk are easy tools.

Why use an ox-knife to kill a hen?

There are two classes that never change: the supremely wise and the profoundly stupid.

If a man is disliked at forty, he always will be.

When driving with a woman, hold the reins in one hand and keep the other behind your back.

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