Product Description

The Analects express a philosophy, or a moral code, by which Confucius, one of the most humane thinkers of all time, believed everyone should live. Upholding the ideals of wisdom, self-knowledge, courage and love of one's fellow man, he argued that the pursuit of virtue should be every individual's supreme goal. And, while following the Way, or the truth, might not result in immediate or material gain, Confucius showed that it could nevertheless bring its own powerful and lasting spiritual rewards.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22310 in Books
• Published on: 2003-06-26
• Original language: Mandarin Chinese
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

About the Author
Confucius [551-479 BC], though of noble descent, was born in humble circumstances. He believed that politics is only an extension of morals, and spent ten years travelling through the various states of China spreading his ideas. When he realised that there was no way of converting the feudal rulers to his way of thinking he returned to Lu and spent the rest of his life there teaching his pupils. D.C Lau has held a number of professorships in the field of Chinese language and literature.

Customer Reviews

good book
A brilliant book sums this up. For those interested in learning about non-western philosophy it is a perfect introduction. Full of Confucius' sayings it will teach you about the morality of the world from the view of Confucius. Not only this but it will also teach you about human nature, people 24 centuries ago aren't that different from people today. More importantly it will teach you how to live. It was a most enjoyable read and it taught me a lot.

Non-Western wisdom
I think most people interested in philosophy have heard of Confucius but not many have read about him. I've always had an interest in philosophy but it is the Greek philosophers who dominate all the books. I decided that I should read some non-Western philosophy and where better than Confucius? I wasn't disappointed. This is a collection of Confucius' sayings which are very interesting and also apply to modern life. This book will not only introduce you to some non-Western philosophy, it will help you become a little bit wiser.

Great resource & easy reference
Other than in passing reference I am new to Confucius' body of work and The Analects have been an excellent place to start. D. C. Lau's introduction lays excellent ground for the reader to understand and put into context The Analects. It is this introduction that makes this translation stand out from others I perused before purchasing.

Having read through once I now use this book daily as a reference of useful and practical principles. Much of the guidance given by Confucius is as relevant today as it was over 2500 years ago. In the spirit of Confucius, I would recommend you apply his teachings as part of your own personal quest to self discovery to improve the world around you.

Ahead of his time, it is disappointing that Confucius and The Analects are not more common in education syllabuses to encourage young people to consider their environment, politics and relationships with other human beings. In a society where ego is usually a guiding principle of success, I highly recommend The Analects as your own personal `check and balance'.

I haven't changed the world and I've certainly not lost my ego, but the teachings of Confucius (in this publication) have helped me temper my arrogance and consider my relationships with friends relatives and colleagues; all for the better.