Confucius

“When Tsze sat himself down upon a big rock, he said to the Earth:
‘Why is it that you are always so hard to manage?’
And the Earth said to Tsze:
‘Because the Great One created me so that you might learn your lessons.’”

Confucius is the Latin name of the great Chinese philosopher Chung-Fu-Tsze. As the Chinese empire was crumbling, Confucius used his erudition and great wisdom to establish order amidst the political and social chaos.

He believed in the integrity of law and tradition, and that inner knowledge had to be activated so that virtue, order, and harmony could be suffused into society. For centuries his philosophy has been the foundation of Chinese society.

His wisdom is reflected in this series of channelled quotes that capture the humour, profundity, and exquisite simplicity of existence.

“The greatest lessons are learned in the stillness of one’s own self.”