The Confucian Analects

Commentary on the Selected verses of the Confucian Analects
By: Jezreel Madsa

"Is he not a man of complete virtue, who feels no discomposure though men may take no note of him?" -- Confucius, "The Analects" (Book I, Ch. 1, v. 3)

For Confucius, a man of complete virtue is the man who does good things regardless of whatever circumstances he may have. He does not bend his character even if nobody commends him or appreciates him. He simply does good things based on his own volition and free will.

"The superior man bends his attention to what is radical"
-- Confucius, "The Analects" (Book I, ch. II, v. 2)

For Confucius, a person's greatness can be known by its propensity to take into account that which is essential or important. To put in different words, a man who is truly superior does not accentuate the non-essentials and downgrade the essentials. 

"Fine words and insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue"
-- Confucius, "The Analects" (ch.III, v.1)

For Confucius, no matter how a person decks his words with flowery rhetoric, it does not guarantee that he has a true virtue. True virtue for Confucius is often dressed with simple words, so to speak, and not by subtle speech which deceives the simpletons.

"When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them."
-- Confucius, "The Analects" (ch. VIII, v. 4)

For Confucius, truth has to be valued, errors have to be abandoned. One should be humble enough to admit one's imperfection and denounce the errors you have in yourself. It is better to suffer for truth's sake than to live at ease with falsehoods.

"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." 

-- Confucius, "The Analects" (Book IV: LE JIN) ch.5, v. 5

For Confucius, a person of virtue does not change his character in whatever circumstance he faces. Even in times of hunger, he does not act contrary to what is virtues; in matters of haste, danger, or anything along those lines, he always keeps his pace on track to that which is virtuous.

"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 favours which he may receive."
-- Confucius, "The Analects" Book IV, ch. XI 

For Confucius, he considers someone as great when that person underscores what accords to virtue or ethics. A truly virtuous man for him does not barter virtue with comfort; and looks at the sanctions of the law more than the favor of which it may receive from it.


"The mind of the superior man is conversant with righteousness; the mind of the mean man is conversant with gain." 
-- Confucius, "The Analects" Book IV, ch. XVI

For Confucius, the truly superior man is one who looks much on what is right than more it looks for gain. Many people seek for what they can get or take advantage upon under the pretense of being good. That is, they do good to others so that they can get all the more out of doing so.

"What I do not wish men to do to me, I also wish not to do to men."
-- Confucius, "The Analects" Book V, ch. IX

For Confucius, what is virtuous and right conduct is to keep oneself of doing things to others which you do not want to be done to you. Many people are so hasty to do things to others without an afterthought or placing themselves into other people's shoe. So it is necessary, as per Confucius, that we should take our actions into account and consider ourselves to be the recipient of such actions and thereby judge if they are meet to be acted on.


REFERENCE:

(1) CONFUCIUS, "The Analects" (The Revised James Legge Translation) 2013