LRJ #1: Analects

Sarita Beekie
Ms. Peifer
10 IB - Hour 5
8 April 2009

LRJ #1: Analects

From the compilation of Confucius' teachings called The Analects, one can infer several of the important Confucian values, including humility, honesty, respect for superiors/elders, and providing a moral example for others. Humility is apparent in several verses from The Analects, such as, "To remain unsoured even though one's merits are unrecognized by others, is that not after all what is expected of a gentleman?" (Waley 1) and "(the good man) does not grieve that other people do recognize his merits. His only anxiety is lest he should fail to recognize theirs" (Waley 3). The importance of honesty can be seen in the verse, "In old days a man kept a hold on his words, fearing the disgrace that would ensue should he himself fail to keep pace with them" (Waley 4). The virtue respecting superiors/elders is referenced in the verse, "Behave in such a way that your father and mother have no anxiety about you, except concerning your health" (Waley 11). Lastly, the importance of providing a moral example for others can be found multiple verses throughout The Analects, such as, "In the presence of a good man, think all the time how you may learn to equal him. In the presence of a bad man, turn your gaze within" (Waley 11), and "If out of three hundred Songs I had to take one phrase to cover all my teaching, I would say, 'Let there be no evil in your thoughts.'" (Waley 5), and lastly, "Govern them by moral force, keep order among them by ritual, and they will keep their self-respect and come to you of their own accord" (Waley 10).

Another way of saying, "He who will not worry about what is far off will soon find something worse than worry close at hand" is, "Unless you act on the future and consider the future consequences of your actions, you will suffer the consequences of your present actions". A modern-day example of this is that if you don't think to do and then turn in your homework, your grade is bound to go down. (Sorry, it's the only analogy I could think of at the moment.)