Selections from The Analects by Confucius1

Part 1

…The philosopher Yu said, “In practicing the rules of propriety, a natural ease is to be prized. In
the ways prescribed by the ancient kings, this is the excellent quality, and in things small and
great we follow them.”

“Yet it is not to be observed in all cases. If one, knowing how such ease should be prized,
manifests it, without regulating it by the rules of propriety, this likewise is not to be done.”…

The Master said, “He who aims to be a man of complete virtue in his food does not seek to
gratify his appetite, nor in his dwelling place does he seek the appliances of ease; he is earnest
in what he is doing, and careful in his speech; he frequents the company of men of principle
that he may be rectified:-such a person may be said indeed to love to learn.”

Tsze-kung said, “What do you pronounce concerning the poor man who yet does not flatter,
and the rich man who is not proud?” The Master replied, “They will do; but they are not equal
to him, who, though poor, is yet cheerful, and to him, who, though rich, loves the rules of
propriety.”…

Part 2

…The Master said, “If the people be led by laws, and uniformity sought to be given them by
punishments, they will try to avoid the punishment, but have no sense of shame.

“If they be led by virtue, and uniformity sought to be given them by the rules of propriety, they
will have the sense of shame, and moreover will become good.”

The Master said, “At fifteen, I had my mind bent on learning. At thirty, I stood firm. At forty, I
had no doubts. At fifty, I knew the decrees of Heaven. At sixty, my ear was an obedient organ
for the reception of truth. At seventy, I could follow what my heart desired, without
transgressing what was right.”…

1 This text is taken from the Internet Classics Archive with copyright held by Daniel C. Stevenson, Web Atomics. Full
copyright and permissions information is available at http://classics.mit.edu/Help/permissions.html. It is
permissible to copy and distribute this for noncommercial educational purposes. The full text of The Analects can
be found at http://classics.mit.edu/Confucius/analects.html. Ellipses (…) have been added to this document to
indicate omitted text and punctuation has been edited in a few places to make things clearer.

Tsze-yu asked what filial piety was. The Master said, “The filial piety nowadays means the
support of one’s parents. But dogs and horses likewise are able to do something in the way of
support;-without reverence, what is there to distinguish the one support given from the
other?”…

The Master said, “See what a man does. Mark his motives. Examine in what things he rests.
How can a man conceal his character? How can a man conceal his character?”…

Part 4

…The Master said, “Those who are without virtue cannot abide long either in a condition of
poverty and hardship, or in a condition of enjoyment. The virtuous rest in virtue; the wise
desire virtue.”…

“The superior man does not, even for the space of a single meal, act contrary to virtue. In
moments of haste, he cleaves to it. In seasons of danger, he cleaves to it.”…

The Master said, “The superior man thinks of virtue; the small man thinks of comfort. The
superior man thinks of the sanctions of law; the small man thinks of favors which he may
receive.”

The Master said: “He who acts with a constant view to his own advantage will be much
murmured against.”…

The Master said, “A man should say, I am not concerned that I have no place, I am concerned
how I may fit myself for one. I am not concerned that I am not known, I seek to be worthy to be
known.”

The Master said, “Shan, my doctrine is that of an all-pervading unity.” The disciple Tsang
replied, “Yes.”

The Master went out, and the other disciples asked, saying, “What do his words mean?” Tsang
said, “The doctrine of our master is to be true to the principles-of our nature and the
benevolent exercise of them to others,-this and nothing more.”

The Master said, “The mind of the superior man is conversant with righteousness; the mind of
the mean man is conversant with gain.”

The Master said, “When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see
men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.”

The Master said, “In serving his parents, a son may remonstrate with them, but gently; when he
sees that they do not incline to follow his advice, he shows an increased degree of reverence,

but does not abandon his purpose; and should they punish him, he does not allow himself to
murmur.”

The Master said, “While his parents are alive, the son may not go abroad to a distance. If he
does go abroad, he must have a fixed place to which he goes.”

The Master said, “If the son for three years does not alter from the way of his father, he may be
called filial.”…

The Master said, “The reason why the ancients did not readily give utterance to their words,
was that they feared lest their actions should not come up to them.”…

The Master said, “Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.”…

Part 5

…Tsai Yu being asleep during the daytime, the Master said, “Rotten wood cannot be carved; a
wall of dirty earth will not receive the trowel. This Yu,-what is the use of my reproving him?”

The Master said, “At first, my way with men was to hear their words, and give them credit for
their conduct. Now my way is to hear their words, and look at their conduct. It is from Yu that I
have learned to make this change.”…

When Tsze-lu heard anything, if he had not yet succeeded in carrying it into practice, he was
only afraid lest he should hear something else…

The Master said of Tsze-ch’an that he had four of the characteristics of a superior man-in his
conduct of himself, he was humble; in serving his superior, he was respectful; in nourishing the
people, he was kind; in ordering the people, he was just…