"In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of."

Politics

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Insight & Reflection

This reflection on politics by Confucius resonates across generations. It highlights a fundamental truth about human nature: our continuous search for meaning in politics is what ultimately defines our character and our path forward.

About Confucius

Confucius, born Kong Qiu, was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Much of the shared cultural heritage of the Sinosphere originates in the philosophy and teachings of Confucius. His philosophical teachings, called Confucianism, emphasized personal and governmental morality, harmonious social relationships, righteousness, kindness, sincerity, and a ruler's responsibilities to lead by virtue.

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Editorial Note: This quote is curated and fact-checked by the Quotes Archive Editorial Team. Verified Literature Specialist.

More by Confucius

"It is a humble truth that the river of time washes away kings and empires, leaving only virtue intact — an essential principle for the reflective life."

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"It is a humble truth that stillness is not emptiness; it is the presence of unencumbered clarity."

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"It is a humble truth that we do not remember the passing of hours, but the resonance of moments."

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More about Politics

"Only government can take perfectly good paper, cover it with perfectly good ink and make the combination worthless."

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"A democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it."

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"The great thing about being a print journalist is that you are permitted to duck. Cameramen get killed while the writers are flat on the floor. A war correspondent for the BBC dedicated his memoir to 50 fallen colleagues, and I guarantee you they were all taking pictures. I am only alive because I am such a chicken."

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