I did it again. I waited an incredibly long time to write a review. It's been almost a month since I read the Analects of Confucius and its all a bit fuzzy. Even more so than my usual mommy brain fuzziness. So I am sitting here trying to decipher the handwriting in my ill-kept writing journal and kicking myself.

Two years ago I took a course on Religion, Rel 201 Religions of India, Rel 202 Religions of China and Japan, and Rel 203 Religions of the Middle East. They were very interesting and except for Rel 202 I really enjoyed them. The reason I didn't like Rel 202 was that the teacher was obviously biased towards Buddhism. A week was spent on Confucianism and Taoism each and the remaining six weeks were Buddhism. A bit more on that subject I can understand, it is very trendy right now and Religion is a tricky subject to teacher. The Rel 203 guy got all kinds of flack, though I thought he kept himself clear of a stated opinion. The real problem I think was that he had long hair and a long beard, like Moses, so people spent a lot of time trying to guess his Religion or lack of it. No one did that with the India guy and certainly not the Buddhist guy because that's obviously what he was. But anyway, the one thing we talked about in relation to Confucianism is why it can be called a religion. If you read the Analects you will quickly see that he makes no divine claims. He is not a 'holy man' or prophet. He barely mentions religion at all. A few quick references to reverence for ancestors is all. Despite this he does provide a framework for some of the basic elements of religion. One, morals and traditions, Two: a hope for a better life (though not in the next life or heaven but through diligence and knowledge you can improve your station and happiness in this life), three: structure to society.
Another thing that must be addressed when talking about Confucius, the myth. That fortune cookie, slightly racist, “Confucius say:” nonsense. His name is actually Kung Fu'tzu. Confucius was a latinization. When reading Confucius you have to think of it the same way as you do when you read Socrates (or Jesus), because he never wrote anything down, it's a bit of guess work what he actually said and what his followers attributed to him later. He was a tutor and moralist, he believed that if given a public office he could institute real change and prove his theories. He was never given that chance. He received an honorary post with no actual power or control to keep him quiet but once he discovered this he resigned. Every now and then you can detect some bitterness about this in his sayings.
I am trying to leave as much of my own opinion about religion out of my posts because I don't intend to get into a discussion about it. I only do that with people I trust. But I will say that I think all religions have something of value that we can learn from and that it is important in our time to have a basic understanding and appreciation for different religions and the people who practice them. So with that in mind here were some of my favorite quotes:

Book I, 16. The Master said, (the good man) does not grieve that other people do not recognize his merits. His only anxiety is lest he should fail to recognize theirs.

Book II, 14. The Master said, A gentleman can see a question from all sides without bias. The small man is biased and can see a question only from one side.

15.The Master said, 'He who learns but does not think, is lost.' He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.

Book III, 26. The Master said, High office filled by men of narrow views, ritual performed without reverence, the forms of mourning observed without grief-these are things I cannot bear to see!
(In my view a synopsis of Confucius.)

Book V, 26. The Master said, In vain have I looked for a single man capable of seeing his own faults and bringing the charge home against himself.
Book IX, 10. Yen Hui said with a deep sigh, The more I strain my gaze up towards it, the higher it soars. The deeper I bore into it, the harder it becomes. I see it in front; but suddenly it is behind. Step by step the Master skilfully lures one on. He has broadened me with culture, restrained me with ritual. Even if I wanted to stop, I could not. Just when I feel that I have exhausted every resource, something seems to rise up, standing out sharp and clear. Yet though I long to pursue it, I can find no way of getting to it at all.
(The cry of every religious devotee.)

Book XII, 16. The Master said, The gentleman calls attention to the good points in others; he does not call attention to their defects. The small man does just the reverse of this.
(There are many like this.)

And of course the silver rule:
Book XV, 23. Tzu-Kung asked saying, Is there any single saying that one can act upon all day and every day? The Master said, perhaps the saying about consideration; “Never do to others what you would not like them to do to you.”