Previous
Book 12
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Analects, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Self-Restraint
Honesty and Integrity
The Individual vs. The Collective
Self-Mastery, Discipline, and Improvement
Summary
Analysis
Yu asks the Master about governance. The Master says that leaders must lead by example in order to get the people to work hard. Yu asks for more guidance, and the Master tells him that officials must not let up on their efforts.
Again, Confucius implies that it is important to lead by example. This destabilizes the hierarchy that may exist between political leaders and their subjects; Confucius believes that even the most powerful are not above hard work.
Themes
The Master says that if a man who is in government has memorized all 300 Odes but fails to complete his administrative responsibilities, what use are the Odes to him? How many has he really learned?
Here, Confucius suggests that study of antiquity is only useful to the extent that it is applicable; a good student will know how to apply antiquity to his contemporary profession and life.
Themes
The Master says that a man who makes himself correct will have no difficulty in taking part in government. If a man cannot make himself correct, why should he be in a position to make others correct?
Confucius implies that leaders need to improve the moral characters of their people, and that knowing how to do so comes from self-mastery. This draws attention to the importance of discipline and holding oneself accountable to correct one’s mistakes.
Themes
The Governor of She shares with Confucius that in his village there is a man whose nickname is “Straight Body,” who earned this nickname because he turned in his father when his father stole a sheep. Confucius says that in his village those who are “straight” behave differently; “fathers cover up for their sons, and sons cover up for their fathers.” This, for Confucius, is straightness.
In this moment, Confucius reveals family ties to be what he values most. The Governor of She tells a story in which the son acts with integrity. However, to Confucius, loyalty to one’s parents is more important even than honesty. This is why the “straight” thing to do is cover up for one’s parents.
Themes
Get the entire The Analects LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Master quotes a saying that is common in the South of the country: “A man devoid of constancy will not make a shaman or a doctor.”
Again, Confucius speaks to the importance of continued hard work and effort in order to accomplish what one sets out to achieve.
Themes
