Chinese

Explore 68 quotes originally in Chinese

When a pair of magpies fly together
They do not envy the pair of phoenixes.

Lady Ho

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Topic

Birds Contentment Satisfaction

Author

Lady Ho

Source

A Song of Magpies

Medium

Poem

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

Chinese

Time

300 BC 300s BC 4th century BC

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Lady Ho. A Song of Magpies. c. 300 BC.

Current Citation

Lady Ho. "A Song of Magpies." Women Poets of China, edited by Kenneth Rexroth and Ling Zhong. New Directions Publishing, 1982.

The root of the kingdom is the state. The root of the state is in the family. The root of the family is in the person of its head.

Mencius

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Topic

Political theory Social hierarchy

Author

Mencius

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

300 BC 300s BC 4th century BC

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Mencius. Mengzi. c. 300 BC, bk. 4.

Current Citation

Mencius. Mencius, translated by D. C. Lau. Penguin Classics, 2005, bk. 4.

Letting a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend is the policy for promoting progress in the arts and the sciences and a flourishing socialist culture in our land.

Mao Zedong

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Topic

Chinese communism

Speaker

Mao Zedong

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

Chinese

Time

1957 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Zedong, Mao. "On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People." Eleventh Session (Enlarged) of the Supreme State Conference. 27 Feb. 1957, Beijing, China.

Before heaven and earth had taken form all was vague and amorphous. Therefore it was called the Great Beginning. The Great Beginning produced emptines and emptiness produced the universe... The combined essences of heaven and earth became the yin and yang, the concentrated essences of the yin and yang became the four seasons, and the scattered essences of the four seasons became the myriad creatures of the world.

Huainanzi

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Topic

Origin of the universe Creation of the world

Source

Huainanzi

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

139 BC 130s BC 2nd century BC

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Huainanzi. c. 139 BC, essay 2, sect. 7.

Current Citation

The Huainanzi, edited and translated by John S. Major, Sarah A. Queen, et. al. Columbia University Press, 2010, essay 2, sect. 7.

A gentleman is ashamed to let his words outrun his deeds.

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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Topic

Words vs. actions

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities... It is best to win without fighting.

Sun Tzu

The Art of War

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Topic

Winning a war War

Author

Sun Tzu

Source

The Art of War

Medium

Treatise

Genre

Military treatise

Language

Chinese

Time

490 BC 490s BC 5th century BC

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Sun Tzu. 孫子兵法 [The Art of War]. c. 475 BC, ch. 3.

Current Citation

Sun Tzu. The Art of War: The Essential Translation of the Classic Book of Life, translated by John Minford. Penguin Classics, 2009, ch. 3.

Have no friends who are not of equal (moral) caliber.

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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Topic

Equality in friendship Equality Friendship

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Advice

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

He who knows does not speak.
He who speaks does not know.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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Topic

Tact and discretion Talking Ignorance

Author

Lao Tzu

Source

Tao Te Ching

Genre

Philosophical literature Religious literature

Language

Chinese

Time

400 BC 400s BC 5th century BC

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 56.

Current Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 56.

The man of virtue makes the difficulty to be overcome his first business, and success only a subsequent consideration.

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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Topic

Overcoming obstacles Success

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

If we are not yet able to serve man, how can we serve spiritual beings?... If we do not yet know about life how can we know about death?

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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Topic

Wisdom

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Question

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

He who will not worry about what is far off will soon find something worse than worry close at hand.

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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Topic

Worry

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

Let people hold on to these:
Manifest plainness,
Embrace simplicity,
Reduce selfishness,
Have few desires.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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Topic

Simplicity Doing less Letting go

Author

Lao Tzu

Source

Tao Te Ching

Genre

Philosophical literature Religious literature

Statement Type

Advice

Language

Chinese

Time

400 BC 400s BC 5th century BC

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 19.

Current Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 19.

The superior man understands righteousness; the inferior man understands profit.

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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Topic

Doing the right thing Righteousness Venality

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

Does Heaven say anything? The four seasons run their course and all things are produced. Does Heaven say anything?

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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Topic

God and man Seasons Nature

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Question

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

In the presence of a good man, think all the time how you may learn to equal him. In the presence of a bad man, turn your gaze within.

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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Topic

Positive influences Negative influences Self-improvement

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Advice

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear?

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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Topic

Clearing one's mind Clarity Stillness Patience

Author

Lao Tzu

Source

Tao Te Ching

Genre

Philosophical literature Religious literature

Statement Type

Question

Language

Chinese

Time

400 BC 400s BC 5th century BC

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 15.

Current Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 15.

If you try to change it, you will ruin it. Try to hold it, and you will lose it.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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Topic

Letting go Grasping Attachment

Author

Lao Tzu

Source

Tao Te Ching

Genre

Philosophical literature Religious literature

Statement Type

Paradox Zen koan

Language

Chinese

Time

400 BC 400s BC 5th century BC

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 29.

Current Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 29.

A young man's duty is to behave well to his parents at home and to his elders abroad.

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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Topic

Filial piety How to behave

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

What is over and done with, one does not discuss. What has already taken its course, one does not criticize; what already belongs to the past, one does not censure.

Confucius

Quoted in Analects

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Topic

Letting go of the past The past

Speaker

Confucius

Source

Analects

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Chinese

Time

221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Confucius. 論語 [The Analects]. c. 479 BCE.

Current Citation

Confucius. The Analects, edited and translated by Annping Chin. Penguin Classics, 2014.

When the people of the world all know beauty as beauty,
There arises the recognition of ugliness.
When they all know the good as good,
There arises the recognition of evil.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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Topic

Knowledge Yin and yang

Author

Lao Tzu

Source

Tao Te Ching

Genre

Philosophical literature Religious literature

Language

Chinese

Time

400 BC 400s BC 5th century BC

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 2.

Current Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 2.