Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Analects, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Self-Restraint
Honesty and Integrity
The Individual vs. The Collective
Self-Mastery, Discipline, and Improvement
Summary
Analysis
Confucius meets with Yang Huo, who asks him whether a man can be said to be benevolent if he hoards his wisdom and allows the state to falter. He asks whether a man can be said to be wise who is eager to participate in public life but never takes the opportunity. Confucius responds, “All right. I shall take office.”
This is a unique moment, because Confucius is suddenly the student rather than the teacher. Yang Huo shows Confucius that in refusing to take on a position of leadership, Confucius is not doing his duty. Many more could learn for him if he takes office. In allowing himself to be corrected, Confucius shows humility.
Themes
The Master says that men are naturally close to one another, and they are only driven apart due to consistent practice.
This moment again shows Confucius’s community-oriented values.
Themes
The Master asks Yu whether he has heard of the “six qualities and the six attendant faults.” When Yu says no, the Master explains. One cannot love benevolence without loving learning, otherwise this leads to harmful action. One cannot love forthrightness without loving learning, otherwise this leads to intolerance. One cannot love courage without loving learning, otherwise this leads to insubordination. One cannot love unbending strength without loving learning, otherwise this will lead to indiscipline.
Confucius characterizes learning as the most important practice one can implement throughout one’s lifetime. Without learning, all of the other values he teaches in the Way become useless. Therefore, continuing to hold oneself to a high standard of intellectual engagement with all of one’s actions is integral to the Way.
Themes
