My favourite sayings of Confucius

The master said: "Who'd call Wei-sheng Kao an upright man? When someone asked him for vinegar, he went and asked his neighbours for some and then gave it to him." (V 23)

The master said: "Who can go out without using the door? Why then don't people do it that way?" (VI 15)

Tsai Wo asked: "A humane person, if you were to tell him that there's a man in the well - would he go in after him?"
The master said: "Now why should he do that? A noble man might go there, but he wouldn't jump in. You can cheat him, but you can't make a fool of him." (VI 24)

When the master was gravely ill, Tzu Lu asked whether they should pray for him. The master asked: "Is there such a thing?" Tzu Lu answered: "Yes, there is. In the Eulogies it is said: We have prayed for thee to the gods above and below." The master said: "My humble self has prayed for a long, long time." (VII 34)

A man from the community of Ta hsiang said: "What a great man is Master K'ung! He is knowledgeable in all kinds of subjects, but he doesn't put his learning to practice in order to make himself a name."
The master heard this and said to his pupils: "Now, what job should I take up? Should I take up chariot driving or arrow shooting? I think I'd rather take up chariot driving." (IX 2)