敏而好學，不恥下問 — Confucius | Printable Wall Art

“敏而好學，不恥下問”
“Quick to learn and eager, unashamed to ask questions of those beneath him.”

Words by Confucius (551 BC-479 BC) — Ancient Chinese philosopher, founder of Confucianism.

About this quote

This proverb highlights the virtue of genuine humility in the pursuit of knowledge. It suggests that true wisdom requires active curiosity and a willingness to learn from anyone, regardless of their social status, age, or standing. Setting aside pride to ask questions allows a person to continually grow, demonstrating that intellect without intellectual humility remains incomplete.

The phrase originates from the Analects, a collection of sayings attributed to Confucius and compiled by his followers during the Warring States period. Confucius used it to praise a minister named Kong Wenzi for his admirable character.

People often display this quote in a study or classroom to encourage intellectual humility and lifelong learning.

What you get

An instant digital download. Choose your design and size at checkout — 19 typographic designs and 8 print sizes are available for this quote.

• Print-ready PDF with fully embedded vector type — sharp at any scale
• Exact trim size, no cropping required
• Print at home, at a local print shop, or upload to an online printer
• Instant download — no physical item is shipped

Sizes available

5" x 7" · 8" x 10" · 11" x 14" · 12" x 16" · 16" x 20" · 18" x 24" · 24" x 36" · A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)

Designs available

Atelier Serif · Quiet Garamond · Studio Left · Gallery Rule · Midnight Serif · Editorial Left Serif · Modern Sans Calm · Letterpress Caps · Poster Condensed · Script Whisper · Manuscript Italic · Asymmetric Left · Minimal Unsigned · Charcoal Sans · Gallery Frame · Soft Serif Right · Statement Serif · Night Script · Tracked Caps Unsigned

Digital product. Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers. Frames and props are not included.