Gather around, philosophy enthusiasts, because "The Analects" is like Confucius dropping wisdom like it's hot, and let me tell you, he's the OG philosopher with a side of ancient sass!

Pros:
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i think the way to make this work is:

1) understand "ritual" as not the specific set of ancient chinese customs that kongzi reveres nor any set of traditional customs, but any kind of ritualized prayer / moral action that is done not with or without intention, but with as little effort and as much importance to life as breathing such that ur disposition finds a kind of peace. it seems that ritual is so important for kongzi is practice for the restraint and distance from the immediacy of a situation that allows for quick and effortless moral thinking. whether or not kongzi would agree is completely irrelevant; i cannot stand his bellyaching about the politics and youth of his day and this reads like he is attached to his own traditions in particular, though he does say the internal disposition they bring about is more important than anything else

2) expand filiality so that there is a supreme one to HEAVEN. which only means that nonsense like 4.18 goes away. this alone lifts kongzi out of what is a surprisingly strong, occasionally beautiful social morality (its sociality at times desecrates the unknowability etc that kongzi claims of his way) and into something religious

anyway this guy is too culturally conservative for my liking, and his emphasis on ritual and filiality seems counterproductive to me ( )

Interesting, in parts. Elsewhere... confusing. Elsewhere... boring and re-re-repetitive.

The Analects is collection of aphorisms, fragmentary historical references, fragmentary literary references, and the occasional pearl of wisdom. On the one hand I find it hard to see how it has the status that it does, as a major work of philosophy. On the other hand, I see how, in attempting to piece together meaning and wisdom from the bits and saying here, it could take on that status: though one is forced to wonder, then, how much of Confucian wisdom is the reader's and how much was Master K'ung's.

Do not expect anything like a system per se. And be prepared for a incredible level of conservative pointing back to what, especially for an American reader unfamiliar with (now ancient) Chinese culture, is at best a dim outline. I've heard Confucius compared to Jesus, and that may actually be the more apt comparison, ignoring the mystical/religious part of Jesus: there is much moral and esoteric advice, but nothing like a philosophical system, metaphysics, physics , etc. ( )

Come tutti i testi composti da dialoghi brevi e da riflessioni che sono quasi aforismi, i dialoghi di Confucio possono essere letti con due diversi approcci: come un libro, con il rischio che la successione provochi noia, o selezionando giorno per giorno una frase. Alla seconda tecnica di lettura ci arriverò, per ora seguo l’ordine, mi mancano gli strumenti per leggere in maniera disordinata. La prima doverosa riflessione concerne l’analogia dei valori del massimo filosofo cinese con i maestri del pensiero occidentali, Socrate, Epicuro, gli stoici. I valori prescindono dalla cultura, risultando connaturati allo stato naturale dell’uomo, la società stessa è subordinata alla declinazione dei sentimenti e delle emozioni individuali. E gli stessi stati d’animo devono essere gestiti, riconducendoli sempre alle cose essenziali della vita, il rispetto dei genitori, degli altri, il valore dell’amicizia, la dignità che rende l’uomo uomo. Come detto, i dialoghi di Confucio dovrebbero essere tenuti sul comodino ed assaporati uno ad uno. Ma oggi quanto grande dovrebbe essere questo comodino dove poggiare tutti i libri che andrebbero tenuti sempre a portata di mano. ( )

Compilado de máximas e ensinamentos curtos do mestre Confúcio, 500 anos A.C., tratando da conduta própria e justa, virtuosa porque comedida, atenta aos outros, reverente aos antigos, sincera, leal à família, estimadora dos amigos, inspiradora nas ações mais que nas palavras, valorosa dos rituais, e compremetida com o desprendimento apenas em uma medida prática, que acredita em um governo que deve dar exemplo e inspirar a correta conduta por meio de suas posições. ( )