Confucius, Chinese philosopher: “Ignorance is the night of the mind—but a night without moon or stars”
The great symbol of Chinese philosophy achieved an influence that endures to this day.
Not many human beings manage to transcend their own era, and even fewer remain influential for centuries, let alone millennia. One of the most widely recognized examples is Confucius, a Chinese philosopher who was born more than 2,500 years ago and whose teachings continue to resonate today under what is now known as Confucianism.
Confucius was born into a noble family that had lost its status and wealth. Throughout his life, he alternated between periods working as a teacher and others serving as a government official in the small State of Lu, a vassal state during the Zhou dynasty in ancient China. He is also said to have worked as a carpenter in northeastern China during the Spring and Autumn period, a time when Zhou power became increasingly decentralized.
The most influential thinker in East Asia
The most influential thinker in East Asian history left behind many sayings and teachings over the course of his life. The name Confucius remains relevant even today, with reflections as profound as this one: “Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon or star.”
It is a reflection on ignorance that still feels strikingly relevant, even though it was conceived thousands of years ago. It evokes a complete emptiness of the mind, like the darkness of night, but even deeper: a night without the light of either the moon or the stars.
Another quote attributed to Confucius that has also endured is: “A little money prevents worries; a lot of it attracts them.” He is also credited with saying that “Silence is the only friend who never betrays.”
His legacy remains a seemingly endless well of wisdom, one from which people can still learn more than 2,500 years later.
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