Confucius was the greatest of the Chinese philosophers. Born in the Kingdom of Lu in 571 B.C.E, he lost his father at the age of 3. He faced a lot of difficulties. Confucius learnt archery and music. He was married at the age of 19 and gave up family life at the age of 23. He worked in different capacities as a language teacher, editor, judge, and minister. He proved to be a great philosopher and teacher.

The philosophy of Confucius is known as ‘Confucianism’. It had a basis in common Chinese tradition and beliefs. He taught loyalty towards family, worship of ancestors, respect to elders and unity among the Chinese.

His sayings.

1. What you do not like when done to yourself, do not do to others. It is considered as the golden rule of Confucius. 

2. Character is the foundation of society. 

3. Wisdom begins at home. 

4. The great man acts before he speaks and speaks according to his actions. 

5. Society rests on the obedience of children to their parents, wife to her husband and students to their teachers. 

6. Excessive taxation and barbaric punishment should be abolished. 

7. To see what is right and not to do it, is want of courage or of principle. 

8. He wished that unemployed be provided with jobs. 

9. The government must protect orphans, aged, widows, diseased and the disabled.