The Analects express a philosophy, or a moral code, by which the author, one of the most humane thinkers, believed everyone should live. Upholding the ideals of wisdom, self-knowledge, courage and love of one's fellow man, this title argues that the pursuit of virtue should be every individual's supreme goal.
'The Master said, "If a man sets his heart on benevolence, he will be free from evil"'
The Analects are a collection of Confucius's sayings brought together by his pupils shortly after his death in 497 BC. Together they express a philosophy, or a moral code, by which Confucius 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.
Translated with an Introduction and Notes by D. C. Lau
“For more than two millennia, the teachings of Confucius have served as a guide for a substantial portion of humanity. English-language readers seeking to understand this remarkable body of thought are fortunate to have Annping Chin’s highly readable and judiciously annotated edition of
The Analects.” —
Henry A. Kissinger“An astonishingly lucid exposition of
The Analects. A kind of serene insight pervades the commentaries.” —
Harold Bloom“An incomparable new volume that combines a fresh and sympathetic translation with a wonderfully readable annotation. It is a joy to use and will unlock a whole new level of meaning for English-language readers.” —
Orville Schell, Director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations and co-author of Wealth and Power: China’s Long March to the Twenty-First Century
