[ Quotes ] c25. Collection of quotes containing Western and Eastern philosophy

 

🌏 Collection of Quotes from Western & Eastern Philosophy

The wisdom of both Western and Eastern philosophy has shaped human thought for centuries, offering insights into life, morality, self-improvement, and the universe. From Socrates to Confucius, from Nietzsche to Lao Tzu, these powerful quotes highlight different perspectives on the same fundamental truths.

 

 

 

🏛 Western Philosophy: Logic, Individualism & Rational Thought

 

Socrates (Greece, 469–399 BCE)

1. "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing."
2. "An unexamined life is not worth living."
3. "To find yourself, think for yourself."
4. "He is richest who is content with the least."
5. "Wonder is the beginning of wisdom."

 

Plato (Greece, 427–347 BCE)

6. "Reality is created by the mind, we can change our reality by changing our mind."
7. "Courage is knowing what not to fear."
8. "A good decision is based on knowledge, not on numbers."
9. "Love is the pursuit of the whole."
10. "The measure of a man is what he does with power."

 

Friedrich Nietzsche (Germany, 1844–1900)

11. "That which does not kill us makes us stronger."
12. "He who has a why to live can bear almost any how."
13. "Without music, life would be a mistake."
14. "To live is to suffer; to survive is to find meaning in suffering."
15. "Sometimes people don’t want to hear the truth because they don’t want their illusions destroyed."

 

René Descartes (France, 1596–1650)

16. "I think, therefore I am."
17. "The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries."
18. "To live without philosophizing is in truth the same as keeping the eyes closed without attempting to open them."
19. "Conquer yourself rather than the world."
20. "Except our own thoughts, there is nothing absolutely in our power."

 

 

🏯 Eastern Philosophy: Harmony, Self-Reflection & Balance

 

Confucius (China, 551–479 BCE)

21. "It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop."
22. "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."
23. "When anger rises, think of the consequences."
24. "Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart."
25. "To see what is right and not do it is the want of courage."

 

Lao Tzu (China, 6th Century BCE, Taoism)

26. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
27. "When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be."
28. "Mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power."
29. "Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished."
30. "The wise man is one who knows what he does not know."

 

Buddha (India/Nepal, 563–483 BCE)

31. "Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."
32. "Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die."
33. "Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without."
34. "The mind is everything. What you think, you become."
35. "Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened."

 

Zhuangzi (China, 4th Century BCE, Daoism)

36. "Flow with whatever may happen, and let your mind be free."
37. "Happiness is the absence of striving for happiness."
38. "A frog in a well cannot conceive of the ocean."
39. "The sound of water says what I think."
40. "Forget the years, forget distinctions. Leap into the boundless and make it your home."

 

🔥 Bridging East & West: Universal Truths

41. "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." – Ralph Waldo Emerson (USA, 1803–1882)
42. "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." – Mahatma Gandhi (India, 1869–1948)
43. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." – Aristotle (Greece, 384–322 BCE)
44. "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." – Plato (Greece, 427–347 BCE)
45. "He who is contented is rich." – Lao Tzu (China, 6th Century BCE)
46. "Silence is a true friend who never betrays." – Confucius (China, 551–479 BCE)
47. "Happiness depends upon ourselves." – Aristotle (Greece, 384–322 BCE)
48. "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." – Mahatma Gandhi (India, 1869–1948)
49. "Act without expectation." – Lao Tzu (China, 6th Century BCE)
50. "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." – Leonardo da Vinci (Italy, 1452–1519)

 

🏆 Final Thoughts

Though Eastern and Western philosophies come from different cultural backgrounds, they both seek to understand life, human nature, and the universe. Whether it’s self-awareness, resilience, or wisdom, these words offer guidance for anyone searching for meaning.

Which quote spoke to you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments below!