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Quite/rather

QUITE                                                                                                          

Means less than 'very' but more than 'a little' :             

-  The film was quite good but the book was much better.

-  She is quite attractive, but not what I'd call gorgeous.

-  She lives quite near me, so we can see each other quite often.

-  I quite like reading but it is not my favourite pastime.

 Quite a :  goes before  a  /  an

- He is quite a good soccer player ( not  a quite  good soccer player)

RATHER

is similar to quite. We use rather mainly with negative words and negative ideas :

-   He is limping rather badly

- 'What was the examination like ? ''Rather difficult , I am afraid.'

-  I was quite pleased with the hotel but she was rather disappointed.

When we use rather with positive words it means 'unusually' or 'surprisingly' :

-  These pears are rather nice ( nicer than expected ) where did you buy them ?

QUITE also means 'completely' and NOT QUITE not completely :              

-  He  has quite recovered from his illness     -  They have not quite finished their lunch yet

Especially with a number of adjectives : 

 sure, certain, right, wrong, true, safe, clear,different, incredible,

 extraordinary, amazing,  impossible,  unnecessary, obvious

-  I am sorry .It is quite impossible, I can't come !

-  Are you sure ? Yes, quite sure