The Analects

by

Confucius

The Master / Confucius Character Analysis

Confucius is the speaker of the Analects of Confucius. A Chinese political leader and philosopher who lived around 500 B.C.E., Confucius was known during his lifetime as a sage, and many of his teachings were compiled in books like this one after his death. Through the anecdotes that appear throughout, readers understand Confucius to be a well-respected leader in his community for his philosophical teachings. Dedicated to preserving the rites—cultural practices that date back to Chinese antiquity—in his contemporary times, Confucius’s character has a bit of a conservative streak. He champions the wisdom of ancient rituals and way of life over modern developments. Throughout the Analects, Confucius champions people who are honest, and he warns his disciples time and time again not to trust those who use “ingratiating” words and have “cunning” faces but never follow through with their action. He praises those who dedicate their lifetime to studying the Way, or the Tao, which is the philosophical doctrine from which he draws many of his beliefs. For him, life should be dedicated to studying without expectation of external reward for the effort. But what Confucius values most of all is family. He believes that a good son is one who emulates his parents’ behavior, even once they have passed. The repetition of parents’ behavior, perhaps, is one of the ways in which Confucius envisions that ancient rites will be passed on from generation to generation. Through his evaluation of the people and practices in his society, Confucius reveals himself to be a thoughtful, sincere, and critical philosopher.

The Master / Confucius Quotes in The Analects

The The Analects quotes below are all either spoken by The Master / Confucius or refer to The Master / Confucius. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Self-Restraint Theme Icon
).
Book 1 Quotes

“Observe what a man has in mind to do when his father is living, and then observe what he does when his father is dead. If, for three years, he makes no changes to his father’s ways, he can be said to be a good son.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 61
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 2 Quotes

“Nowadays for a man to be filial means no more than that he is able to provide his parents with food. Even hounds and horses are, in some way, provided with food. If a man shows no reverence, where is the difference?”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 64
Explanation and Analysis:

“Yu, I shall tell you what it is to know. To say you know when you know, and to say you do not when you do not, that is knowledge.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker), Yu
Page Number: 65
Explanation and Analysis:

“The Book of History says, ‘Oh! Simply by being a good son and friendly to his brothers a man can exert an influence upon government.’ In so doing a man is, in fact, taking part in government. How can there be any question of his having actively to ‘take part in government’?”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 66
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 4 Quotes

“Of neighborhoods benevolence is the most beautiful. How can the man be considered wise who, when he has the choice, does not settle in benevolence?”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 72
Explanation and Analysis:

“There is no point in seeking the views of a gentleman who, though he sets his heart on the Way, is ashamed of poor food and poor clothes.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 73
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 5 Quotes

“I suppose I should give up hope. I have yet to meet the man who, on seeing his own errors, is able to take himself to task inwardly.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 80
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 7 Quotes

“It is these things that cause me concern: failure to cultivate virtue, failure to go more deeply into what I have learned, inability, when I am told what is right, to move to where it is, an inability to reform myself when I have defects.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 87
Explanation and Analysis:

“I was not born with knowledge but, being fond of antiquity, I am quick to seek it.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 88
Explanation and Analysis:

“Even when walking in the company of two other men, I am bound to be able to learn from them. The good points of the one I copy; the bad points of the other I correct in myself.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 88
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 9 Quotes

“If anyone can, while dressed in a worn-out gown padded with old silk floss, stand beside a man wearing fox or badger fur without feeling ashamed it is, I suppose, Yu.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker), Yu
Page Number: 100
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 11 Quotes

The wealth of the Chi Family was greater than that of the Duke of Chou, and still Ch’iu helped them add further to that wealth by raking in the taxes. The Master said, “He is no disciple of mine. You, my young friends, may attack him openly to the beating of drums.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 108
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 12 Quotes

“To return to the observance of rites through overcoming the self constitutes benevolence. If for a single day a man could return to the observance of the rites through overcoming himself, then the whole Empire would consider benevolence to be his. However, the practice of benevolence depends on oneself alone, and not on others.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Rites
Page Number: 113
Explanation and Analysis:

“Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire. In this way you will be free from ill will whether in a state or in a noble family.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 113
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 14 Quotes

Tzu-lu asked about the gentleman. The Master said, “He cultivates himself and thereby achieves reverence.”
“Is that all?”
“He cultivates himself and thereby brings peace and security to his fellow men.”
“Is that all?”
“He cultivates himself and thereby brings peace and security to the people.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 131
Explanation and Analysis:
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The Master / Confucius Quotes in The Analects

The The Analects quotes below are all either spoken by The Master / Confucius or refer to The Master / Confucius. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Self-Restraint Theme Icon
).
Book 1 Quotes

“Observe what a man has in mind to do when his father is living, and then observe what he does when his father is dead. If, for three years, he makes no changes to his father’s ways, he can be said to be a good son.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 61
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 2 Quotes

“Nowadays for a man to be filial means no more than that he is able to provide his parents with food. Even hounds and horses are, in some way, provided with food. If a man shows no reverence, where is the difference?”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 64
Explanation and Analysis:

“Yu, I shall tell you what it is to know. To say you know when you know, and to say you do not when you do not, that is knowledge.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker), Yu
Page Number: 65
Explanation and Analysis:

“The Book of History says, ‘Oh! Simply by being a good son and friendly to his brothers a man can exert an influence upon government.’ In so doing a man is, in fact, taking part in government. How can there be any question of his having actively to ‘take part in government’?”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 66
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 4 Quotes

“Of neighborhoods benevolence is the most beautiful. How can the man be considered wise who, when he has the choice, does not settle in benevolence?”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 72
Explanation and Analysis:

“There is no point in seeking the views of a gentleman who, though he sets his heart on the Way, is ashamed of poor food and poor clothes.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 73
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 5 Quotes

“I suppose I should give up hope. I have yet to meet the man who, on seeing his own errors, is able to take himself to task inwardly.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 80
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 7 Quotes

“It is these things that cause me concern: failure to cultivate virtue, failure to go more deeply into what I have learned, inability, when I am told what is right, to move to where it is, an inability to reform myself when I have defects.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 87
Explanation and Analysis:

“I was not born with knowledge but, being fond of antiquity, I am quick to seek it.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 88
Explanation and Analysis:

“Even when walking in the company of two other men, I am bound to be able to learn from them. The good points of the one I copy; the bad points of the other I correct in myself.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 88
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 9 Quotes

“If anyone can, while dressed in a worn-out gown padded with old silk floss, stand beside a man wearing fox or badger fur without feeling ashamed it is, I suppose, Yu.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker), Yu
Page Number: 100
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 11 Quotes

The wealth of the Chi Family was greater than that of the Duke of Chou, and still Ch’iu helped them add further to that wealth by raking in the taxes. The Master said, “He is no disciple of mine. You, my young friends, may attack him openly to the beating of drums.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 108
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 12 Quotes

“To return to the observance of rites through overcoming the self constitutes benevolence. If for a single day a man could return to the observance of the rites through overcoming himself, then the whole Empire would consider benevolence to be his. However, the practice of benevolence depends on oneself alone, and not on others.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Rites
Page Number: 113
Explanation and Analysis:

“Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire. In this way you will be free from ill will whether in a state or in a noble family.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 113
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 14 Quotes

Tzu-lu asked about the gentleman. The Master said, “He cultivates himself and thereby achieves reverence.”
“Is that all?”
“He cultivates himself and thereby brings peace and security to his fellow men.”
“Is that all?”
“He cultivates himself and thereby brings peace and security to the people.”

Related Characters: The Master / Confucius (speaker)
Page Number: 131
Explanation and Analysis: