Confucius said, “There are those with whom one can study together, but not proceed together on the Way; those with whom one can proceed on the Way, but not stand firm with; and those with whom one can stand firm, but not exercise discretion.”
Confucius said, “There are cases where sprouts appear but no blossoms; there are cases where blossoms appear but no fruit!”
Confucius said, “The one who never shows laziness when I speak to him – is it not Yan Hui?”
Confucius said, “I have never seen anyone who loves virtue as much as they love beauty.”
Confucius stood by a river and said, “What passes away is like this – never ceasing day or night!”
Confucius said, “When outside, I serve dukes and ministers; at home, I serve my father and elder brothers. In matters of mourning, I never fail to do my utmost; I am never overcome by wine. What difficulty is there for me in these things?”
Confucius wanted to move and live among the Nine Yi (barbarian tribes in the remote east). Someone said, “That place is too crude – how can you live there?” Confucius replied, “If a noble person lives there, how can it be called crude?”
Lao (a disciple of Confucius) said, “The Master once remarked, ‘Because I was never given an official post, I acquired many practical skills.’”