Confucius The Analects - Translated by Arthur Waley, Introduction by Sarah Allan

ISBN:978-1857151848
Verdict👍👍 


My first review of 2020 💥 as I’ve been a bit preocupied completing  and getting my new book out.

I picked this book up because I wanted to get a better understanding of  the Confucian way of thinking, which in part I did, but did struggle with this.


The Analects  were written after Confucius died, when  his students put together records of things Confucius had told them, in essence this is the translation of notes, hence called the  Analects.

This book requires some extra  thought especially with the footnotes to at the bottom of the page but it’s important to note (p19) that “Confucius describes himself as a transmitter , not an originator”.

The book is filled with some great quotes, however be prepared to read the first 71 pages from the Translator explaining some of his t his interpretations from the original notes.

Some extracts below;
  • He does not preach what he practices till he has practised what he preaches p82
  • ‘He who learns but does not think, is lost.’ He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger. p83
  • What is over and done with, one does not discuss. What has already taken its course, one does not criticise; what already belongs to the past , one does not censure. p91
  • In the morning ,hear the Way; in the evening ,die content! p95
  • Rotten wood cannot be carved, nor a wall of dung be trowelled p101
  • A craftsman, if he has the means to do good work ,must first sharpen his tools. p184



I gave the book 👍👍, as once I got past page 77, I found some great snippets of information.

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