Study the past if you would define the future. — Confucius · Smartyfair

Study the past if you would define the future.

Confucius551–479 BC · philosopher · Ancient ChinaConfucius was a teacher and philosopher who lived in ancient China more than 2,500 years ago.8 quotes

Source not found yetLearningAncient

In plain words

Look at what already happened to work out what to do next.

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Where these words come from

How sure this is: 34% sureLots of sources credit Confucius with this, and they agree with each other. The book or the speech it first came from hasn't turned up yet.
What turned up: Not found in the Analects or anywhere on Wikiquote's Confucius page. Widely circulated but with no traceable primary or classical source.
Sources checked: en.wikiquote.orgChecked using claude-sonnet-5, 20 August 2026

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More from Confucius

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.

Confucius By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection; second, by imitation; third, by experience.

Confucius If you see what is right and fail to act on it, you lack courage.

Confucius Only after Winter comes do we know that the pine and the cypress are the last to fade.

Confucius Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.

Confucius Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters?

More on learning

A single conversation with a wise man is worth a month's study of books.Chinese proverb The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.

Aristotle Do not be guilty of possessing a library of learned books while lacking learning yourself.

Erasmus Learning is a kind of natural food for the mind.

Cicero Men learn while they teach.

Seneca Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardour and attended to with diligence.