Chinese Sayings

"The Master said, to learn and at due times to repeat what one has learnt, is that not after all a pleasure? That friends should come from afar, is this not after all delightful?"

"Tzu-Ch'in said, when our Master arrives in a fresh country, he always manages to find out about its policy."

"The Master said, He who learns but does not think is lost. He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger."

– from Confucius [The Analects]

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

"When you say something, say what you know.  When you don't know something, say you don't know.  That is knowledge."

"Study the past if you would define the future."

"Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?"

"Study without thought is vain: thought without study is dangerous."

"The gentleman is calm and peaceful: the small man is always emotional."

- other words of wisdom from Confucious

"Therefore, I say know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be defeated."

"Now the reason a brilliant sovereign, and a wise general conquer the enemy whenever they move, and their achievements surpass those of ordinary men, is their foreknowledge of the enemy situation. This 'foreknowledge' cannot be elicited from spirits, nor from gods, nor by analogy with past events, nor by astrologic calculations. It must be obtained from men who know the enemy situation."

- from Sun Tzu [The Art of War]

"The World is in a time of profound change. The State must wisely balance equity efficiency and promote China 's fine traditions whilst absorbing the positive aspects of foreign cultures."

- Jiang Zemin

"We will closely unite and depend on the entire Party and people of all ethnic groups across China, carry on past accomplishments, keep pace with the times, and work hard to build a well-off society in an all-around way, accelerating socialist modernisation and striving to usher in a brand new situation for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics."

- Hu Jintao

"It's bad luck not to have a business."

- (wushang bu fu)

"Do not seek answers; seek to understand the questions."

"He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever."

"Studying is like rowing against the current, if you are not moving forward, you are moving backward."

"Learning is like the horizon; there is no limit."

"The old horse will know the way."

"Dangerous enemies will meet again in narrow streets."

"First attain skill; creativity comes later."

- General Chinese Sayings