Confucius was an influential Chinese philosopher whose teachings about ethics, morality and good governance shaped Chinese thought for centuries. He lived from 551-479 BC during a time of political chaos. Confucius believed that social harmony could be achieved through self-cultivation, moral leadership and proper relationships between rulers and subjects. Though he sought political positions, he was never appointed to high office. Confucius spent his later years teaching and editing classical texts. His emphasis on virtue, propriety and humanism established the foundation for Confucian philosophy.