Commentary on the Confucian Analects, Book 4: "Li Zan" Part 2/2

Hello everyone! This is a continuation of my commentaries on the Confucian Analects. If you have missed one, all of the previous posts will be linked down below. This post is Book 4: Li Zan Part 2/2.

Here is the second half of my commentaries on Book 4: Li Zan:

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Original text from the Public Domain Confucian Analects (from the 2013 edition of
"The Art of War and Other Classics of Eastern Thought")
@cmp2020 original commentary

Li Zan

XIV
Advising to self-cultivation
The Master said, "A man should say, I am not concerned that I have no place, I am concerned how I may fit myself for one. I am not concerned that I am not known, I seek to be worthy to be known."

Don't worry about outcomes. Worry about your own responsibilities, and the outcomes you seek will fall into place. An example right here on Steemit would be worry about producing quality content, and regards and followers surely will come.

XV

1. The Master said, "Shan my doctrine is that of an all-pervading unity." The disciple Tsang replied, "Yes."
2. The Master went out, and the other disciples asked, saying, "What do his words mean?" Tsang said, "The doctrine of our master is to be true to the principles of our nature and the benevolent exercise of them to others-this and nothing more."

Here, Confucius is saying that his beliefs are to follow and practice what your conscience dictates is right and wrong. For example, don't take what doesn't belong to you even if you think you can get away with it.

XVI
How righteousness and selfishness distinguish the superior man and the small man
The Master said, "The mind of the superior man is conversant with righteousness; the mind of the mean man is conversant with gain."

If you are superior, you will consider whether your actions are right or wrong first before making decisions. If you are not superior, you will only consider how your actions will benefit you. This is similar to number 11 in part 1/2 of this book. I would note that Confucius is not stating that superior men don't consider personal gain. He is saying the superior men can consider this, but also consider whether their actions are right or wrong.

XVII
The lessons to be learned from observing men of different characters
The Master said, "When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves."

When you see someone who is valuable, strive to be them. When you see someone who is different than you, think about what makes you different. For example, if you see someone who does better at a class than you, compare your study habits, class participation, and homework completion.

XVIII
How a son may remonstrate with his parents on their faults
The Master said, "In serving his parents, a son may remonstrate with them, but gently; when he sees that they do not incline to follow his advice, he shows an increased degree of reverence, but does not abandon his purpose; and should they punish him, he does not allow himself to murmur."

Even if you disagree with your parents, you should respect them. If your parents punish you, you should not gossip about it. This is similar to the commandment in the bible that tells you to honor your mother and father.

XIX
A son ought not to go to a distance where he will not be able to pay the due services to his parents
The Master said, "While his parents are alive, the son may not go abroad to a distance. If he does go abroad, he must have a fixed place to which he goes."

When your parents are alive, they should know where you are. This connects with the last segment about respecting your parents.

XX
A repetition of part of I:XI
The Master said, "If the son for three years does not alter from the way of his father, he may be called fillial,"

If you follow your father's teachings for three years, you are dutiful. This reminds me of when my football coaches used to say that it's not what you do in front of people, it's what you do behind them that defines you. Confucius is saying that if you live as your father preached (in his sight and out of it) for three years, you truly are loyal to him.

XXI
What effect the age of parents should have on their children
The Master said, "The years of parents may by no means not be kept in the memory, as an occasion at once for joy and for fear."

Your parents' age should be celebrated and respected. Meaning that you should be happy for your parents as they age, and you should realize that they have experience and should therefore be respected.

XXII
The virtue of the ancients seen in their slowness to speak
The Master said, "The reason why the ancients did not readily give utterance to their words, was that they feared lest their actions should not come up to them."

Our ancestors did not speak their opinions because they feared they would not be able to live the way they spoke. This is, again, Confucius speaking of hypocrisy and living as your moral standards dictate.

XXIII
Advantage of caution
The Master said, "The cautious seldom err."

If you are careful, you will rarely make mistakes.

XXIV
Rule of the Chün-tsze about his words and actions
The Master said, "The superior man wishes to be slow in his speech and earnest in his conduct."

The superior man thinks about his opinions before speaking them, and is serious about what they do.

XXV
The virtuous are not left alone-an encouragement to virtue
The Master said, "Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors."

You are not alone if you have moral standards. There are many others who also have moral standards. One example of this could be Martin Luther King Jr, or Rosa Parks who stood up for what their moral standards dictated was right, and became backed by a movement of people.

XXVI
A lesson to counselors and friends Tsze-yu said, "In serving a prince, frequent remonstrates lead to disgrace. Between friends, frequent reproofs make the friendship distant."

People don't like to be corrected. If you correct your friends, you will drive them away. This is similar to one of the previous books that I summarized as if you attack those who support you, noone will be left to support you. An example of this would be the cliche "Don't bite the hand that feeds you."

Previous Posts

Confucian Analects

[Book 1: Hsio R](https://steemit.com/reviews/@cmp2020/comentary-on-the-confucia
n-analects-book-1-hsio-r-part-1-1)
[Book 2: Wei Chang Part
1/2](https://steemit.com/reviews/@cmp2020/comentary-on-the-confucian-analects-book
-2-wei-chang-part-1-2)
[Book 2: Wei Chang Part
2/2](https://steemit.com/reviews/@cmp2020/comentary-on-the-confucian-analects-book
-2-wei-chang-pa)
[Book 3: Pa Yih Part
1/2](https://steemit.com/reviews/@cmp2020/comentary-on-the-confucian-analects-book
-3-pah-yih-part-1-2)
[Book 3: Pa Yih Part
2/2](https://steemit.com/reviews/@cmp2020/comentary-on-the-confucian-analects-book
-3-pah-yih-part-2-2)
Book 4: Li Zan Part 1/2
Book 4: Li Zan Part 2/2

Art of War Review

Part 1: Laying Plans

Part 2: Waging War

Part 3: Attack by Stratagem

Part 4: Tactical Dispositions

Part 5: Energy

Part 6a: Weak Points and Strong

Part 6b: Weak Points and Strong

Part 7a: Maneuvering

Part 7b: Maneuvering
Part 8: Variation in Tactics 

Part 9a: The Army on the March

Part 9b: The Army on the March

Part 10a: Terrain

Part 10b: Terrain

Part 11a: The Nine Situations

Part 11b: The Nine Situations

Part 11c: The Nine Situations

Part 12: The Attack by Fire

Part 13: The Use of Spies

Thanks for reading this! I enjoyed writing it. The first of my commentaries on book 5, Kung-ye Ch'ang will be up tomorrow at 6:00 pm (est). If you enjoyed this, make sure to check back tomorrow!

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