The document is an analysis of passages from the Analects by Confucius. It provides definitions for key words in each passage and asks the reader to paraphrase the passages using simplified definitions and reflect on how to apply the lessons to their own life.

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ANALECTS ANALYSIS - Click here if you wish to read the entire ANALECTS by Confucius
Book 1 - Chapter 1
The Master said, "Is it not pleasant to learn with a constant
perseverance and application?
Define -
The steady persistence in a course of action.
Perseverance
Vocabulary
word in a He had to use intense perseverance to survive the fire fight.
sentence
Define -
Close attention; persistent effort
Application
Vocabulary
word in a The application to what he was taught made his new job easier.
sentence
Paraphrase this
chapter while
plugging in the
Wouldn't it be better to pay close attention and to be persistent in all classes?
simplified
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
own life to show I can be persistent and pay attention to anything important I learn.
that you understand
this book?

2. Book 1 - Chapter 1
"Is he not a man of complete virtue, who feels no discomposure
though men may take no note of him?"
Define - Virtue Moral excellence; goodness; righteousness
Vocabulary
word in a It is a display of virtue when you always do what is right.
sentence
Define -
The state of being discomposed; disorder; agitation; perturbation.
Discomposure
Vocabulary
word in a He had been having a very busy and bad day, so it was easy to gain discomposure.
sentence
Paraphrase this
chapter while
plugging in the If a man truly is good, he should not be distraught just because nobody notices the good deeds he
simplified does.
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
own life to show I can be someone who does the right thing, whether I am noticed or not.
that you understand
this book?

3. Book 1 - Chapter 4
The philosopher Tsang said, "I daily examine myself on three points:-- whether, in transacting
business for others, I may have been not faithful;-- whether, in intercourse with friends, I may have
been not sincere;-- whether I may have not mastered and practiced the instructions of my teacher."
Define -
to carry on or conduct (business, negotiations, activities, etc.) to a conclusion or settlement.
Transacting
Vocabulary
word in a I was transacting business at the bank.
sentence
Define -
dealings or communication between individuals, groups, countries, etc.
Intercourse
Vocabulary
word in a There was angry verbal intercourse occurring at the football game.
sentence
Paraphrase this
chapter while
plugging in the I may not have been the best I could be to someone else when dealing and talking with them, but
simplified I have followed my teacher's instructions and that is the important part.
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
I can follow the instructions given to me, and have done the correct thing, even if the
own life to show
happening is not good for others.
that you understand
this book?

4. Book 2 - Chapter 20
Chî K'ang asked how to cause the people to reverence their ruler, and to be faithful to him. The
Master said, "Let him preside over them with gravity;-- then they will reverence him. Let him be kind
to all;-- then they will be faithful to him."
Define -
a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe; veneration.
Reverence
Vocabulary
In the song Desecrate Through Reverence by Avenged Sevenfold, M. Shadows sings about having no
word in a
respect for others because they disrespect him.
sentence
Define -
serious or dignified behavior; dignity; solemnity
Gravity
Vocabulary
word in a He has a very good and heavy gravity about him.
sentence
Paraphrase this
chapter while
plugging in the The subjects of a kingdom show respect for their leader if he rules seriously, and if he is nice to
simplified them, they will be loyal in return.
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
own life to show I can show respect to superiors.
that you understand
this book?

5. Book 4 - Chapter 9
The Master said, "A scholar, whose mind is set on truth, and who is ashamed
of bad clothes and bad food, is not fit to be discoursed with."
Define -
a learned or erudite person, especially one who has profound knowledge of a particular subject
Scholar
Vocabulary
word in a If you seek knowledge of something in particular, you should find a scholar on the subject.
sentence
Define -
communication of thought by words; talk; conversation
Discourse
Vocabulary
word in a If you are speaking with a superior, you should use a polite form of discourse.
sentence
Paraphrase this
chapter while
plugging in the If a someone is set on knowing things, and they're particularly wary of clothing and food, it is not
simplified worth talking with them.
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
own life to show I can be uncaring of the appearance or wealth of a person, but I must still look to know.
that you understand
this book?

6. Book 4 - Chapter 20
The Master said, "The cautious seldom err."
Define -
on only a few occasions; rarely; infrequently; not often
Seldom
Vocabulary
word in a I seldom make mistakes that could harm me, but on occasion I do.
sentence
Define - Err to go astray in thought or belief; be mistaken
Vocabulary
word in a It was a stupid err that the bank teller made, but he still got fired over it.
sentence
Paraphrase this
chapter while
plugging in the
Everyone occasionally makes mistakes, and it is normal.
simplified
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
own life to show
Accept the fact that I will make mistakes, so not to make a big deal about it.
that you understand
this book?

7. Book 6 - Chapter 15
The Master said, "If the only way out is by the door, how is it that men will
fight going out by that way?"
Paraphrase this
chapter while
plugging in the
If there is a clear way to do something, why do men find another, harder way to complete the task?
simplified
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
own life to show I can either take the easy way to do something or the hard way?
that you understand
this book?
Book 7 - Chapter 11
The Master said, "If any means of escaping poverty presented itself that did not involve doing wrong,
I would adopt it. If it was by illegitimate means, I shall continue to pursue the quests that I love."
Define -
not legitimate; not sanctioned by law or custom
illegitimate
Vocabulary
word in a If these papers are illegitimate, you could get fired.
sentence
Paraphrase this
chapter while
plugging in the
If there was a legal way to be rich, I would take it, but not if it was illegal.
simplified
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
own life to show Always look for an easy way out of a problem, but do not take it if it is incorrect.
that you understand
this book?

8. Book 8 - Chapter 16
The Master said, "Ardent and yet not upright, stupid and yet not attentive;
simple and yet not sincere:-- such persons do not understand."
Define - Ardent having, expressive of, or characterized by intense feeling; passionate; fervent
Vocabulary
word in a There was an ardent tone in his voice when he fought about that subject.
sentence
Define -
adhering to rectitude; righteous, honest, or just
Upright
Vocabulary
word in a The man was very upright in personality, and everybody liked him.
sentence
Define - Stupid lacking ordinary quickness and keenness of mind; dull
Vocabulary
word in a It turns out, trying to kill a bull with a ball-point pen was a stupid idea.
sentence
Paraphrase this
chapter while
plugging in the
simplified
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
own life to show
that you understand
this book?

9. Book 12 - Chapter 16
The Master said, "The superior man seeks to perfect the admirable qualities of
men, and does not seek to perfect their bad qualities. The mean man does the
opposite of this."
Define -
Superior
Vocabulary
word in a
sentence
Define -
Admirable
Vocabulary
word in a
sentence
Paraphrase this
chapter while
plugging in the
simplified
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
own life to show
that you understand
this book?

10. Book 13 - Chapter 23
The Master said, "The superior man is affable, but not adulatory; the mean man is
adulatory, but not affable."
Define -
Affable
Vocabulary
word in a
sentence
Define -
Adulatory
Vocabulary
word in a
sentence
Paraphrase this
chapter while
plugging in the
simplified
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
own life to show
that you understand
this book?

11. Book 15 - Chapter 14
The Master said, "He who requires much from himself and little from others, will keep
himself from being the object of resentment."
Define -
Resentment
Vocabulary
word in a
sentence
Paraphrase this
chapter while
plugging in the
simplified
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
own life to show
that you understand
this book?
Book 15 - Chapter 22
The Master said, "The superior man does not promote a man simply on account of his words."
Paraphrase this
chapter while
plugging in the
simplified
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
own life to show
that you understand
this book?

12. Book 17 - Chapter 2
The Master said, "By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart."
the particular combination of qualities belonging to a person, animal, thing, or class by birth, origin,
Define - Nature
or constitution; native or inherent character
Vocabulary
word in a By human nature, no one is perfect.
sentence
Paraphrase this
chapter while
plugging in the When babies are born they are all equal, but their studying, skills, and practices make them
simplified different.
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
own life to show I can strive to be my best and be an incredibly individual person.
that you understand
this book?
Book 19 - Chapter 21
Tsze-kung said, "The faults of the superior man are like the eclipses of the sun and moon. He has his
faults, and all men see them; he changes again, and all men look up to him."
Define - eclipse
Vocabulary
word in a
sentence
Paraphrase this
chapter while
plugging in the
simplified
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
own life to show
that you understand
this book?