The Thinkers

We often use quotes pertaining to wisdom in social networking statuses but probably never ask about their source. It is inspiring how most popular quotations like “never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself” and “it does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop” were actually said by philosophers and thinkers more than 2000 years ago. The following historical legends are considered the pioneers of philosophy. Some people actually perceive them as prophets, as higher level humans. Some other people would not acknowledge the importance of their contribution to humanity. But eventually, the fact that we still use their quotes to inspire ourselves is the best proof of their everlasting essence. And the fact that they overlap in many common ideologies might be a remarkable clue that there exists some sort of guidance to the meaning and purpose of life.

Confucius:  Chinese       Master Kong        1st Chinese Teacher              (551 BC - 479 BC)

Gautama Buddha:     Indian             Founder of Buddism                         (563 BC - 483 BC)

Socrates:                   Greek             Teacher of Plato                               (469 BC - 399 BC)

Plato:                         Greek             Teacher of Aristotle                  (424/423 BC - 348/347 BC)

Aristotle:                   Greek             Teacher of Alexander                      (384 BC - 322 BC)

Alexander the great: Greek            Expanded Greece to its largest         (356 BC - 323 BC)

This list shows the basic information for comparison. Notice their life span. Confucius and Buddha's teachings are still implemented nowadays in the east. Notice also how the Greek philosophers form a series and how, or seems to be, Alexander the Great have used all this knowledge to expand the Greek Empire to its greatest  time in all history. To know more about the philosophers click their names.

Confucius Statue in his Temple. In Qufu, Shandong Province, China

Confucius Tomb in the Confucian Forest Cementary. In Qufu also.

The 3 Wise Monkeys - See no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil, and the last one...I don't bother! (actually its do no evil). An ideology originated by many philosophers including Confucius

Confucius Quotes:

“Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart" 

“Real Knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance"

“He who would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools"

"Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves"

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand"

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop”

"Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself”
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do"
"He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good"

“The superior man is aware of righteousness, the inferior man is aware of advantage"
“He who learns but does not thing, is lost. He who thinks but does not learn, is in great danger"
"When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves"

“If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?"

Buddha Quotes:

"The thought manifests as the word;

The word manifests as the deed;

The deed develops into habit;

And habit hardens into character;

So watch the thought and its ways with care,

And let it spring from love

Born out of concern for all beings…

As the shadow follows the body,

As we think, so we become"

Socrates Quotations:

"Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live"

Plato Quotes:

"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something"

"He who is of calm and happy nature will hardly feel the pressure of age, but to him who is of an opposite disposition youth and age are equally a burden"

Aristotle Quotes:

"Well begun is half done"

"We make war that we may live in peace"

"A likely impossibility is always preferable to an unconvincing possibility"

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit"

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it"

"It is the nature of desire not to be satisfied, and most men live only for the gratification of it"

"I have gained this by philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of law"

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, and desire"

Yin & Yang symbol of Taoism. The interconnection of the opposites.

These are best of their quotes. To read more quotes click on the links of each 'philosopher quotes'.