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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 - Noun-steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties,
Perseverance obstacles, or discouragement.
Vocabulary
word in a His great perseverance led him to reaching his dreams.
sentence
Define -
Noun- close attention; persistent effort.
Application
Vocabulary
word in a Making the sculpture required great application.
sentence
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Learning is worth doing when you have a purpose and close attention.
simplified
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
own life to show I would pay attention and do my absolute best in class.
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 Noun-moral excellence; goodness; righteousness.
Vocabulary
word in a His virtue keeps him on the path to success.
sentence
Define -
Noun-the state of being discomposed; disorder; agitation; perturbation.
Discomposure
Vocabulary
word in a After hitting a pole with his car you could see the discomposure in his face.
sentence
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He is a good man who does not mind people not noticing him.
simplified
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
own life to show In my own life I could have moral fiber regardless of whether or not I am noticed.
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 -
verb-to carry on or conduct (business, negotiations, activities, etc.) to a conclusion or settlement.
Transacting
Vocabulary
word in a I went to the bank to transact some money.
sentence
Define -
noun-dealings or communication between individuals, groups, countries, etc.
Intercourse
Vocabulary
word in a The friends intercourse was not the same after the fight they had gotten in the day before.
sentence
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In my life I have not been the greatest friend, the most honest business man, or the best student.
simplified
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
own life to show In my own life I can work on becoming a better friend, business person, and student.
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 -
noun-a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe; veneration.
Reverence
Vocabulary
word in a After seeing him finish the race everyone looked at him with reverence.
sentence
Define -
noun-serious or dignified behavior; dignity; solemnity: to preserve one's gravity.
Gravity
Vocabulary
word in a Even though the other team's crowd did not have good sportsmanship, our fans kept their gravity.
sentence
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If a leader is dignified his people will respect him and if a leader is nice they will be true to him.
simplified
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
In my own life if I am kind to people they will be true to me and if I have dignity people will
own life to show
respect me.
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 -
noun-a learned or erudite person, esp. one who has profound knowledge of a particular subject.
Scholar
Vocabulary
word in a People who go to college are called scholars.
sentence
Define -
noun-communication of thought by words; talk; conversation: earnest and intelligent discourse.
Discourse
Vocabulary
word in a They had a discourse in the hallway.
sentence
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A student who feels that he is better than everyone else is not worth talking to.
simplified
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
own life to show In my own life I can be a student without thinking that I am better than anyone else.
that you understand
this book?

6. Book 4 - Chapter 20
The Master said, "The cautious seldom err."
Define - adverb-on only a few occasions; rarely; infrequently; not often: We seldom see our old neighbors
Seldom anymore.
Vocabulary
word in a It seldom snows in Nevada.
sentence
Define - Err verb-to go astray in thought or belief; be mistaken; be incorrect.
Vocabulary
word in a Ignorant people often err.
sentence
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Cautious people are rarely incorrect.
simplified
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
own life to show Think about things before I act or say things.
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?"
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Why do people refuse to take the easy way out by being stubborn for no reason?
simplified
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
own life to show In my own life I can do my work and do what I need to, to get work done.
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 -
adjective-irregular; not in good usage.
illegitimate
Vocabulary
word in a The check was illegitimate and bounced.
sentence
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I would rather be honest and poor than rich and a liar.
simplified
vocabulary word
meanings.
What specifically
can you do in your
own life to show In my own life I can work honestly with things such as school work and sports.
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
Vocabulary
word in a
sentence
Define -
Upright
Vocabulary
word in a
sentence
Define - Stupid
Vocabulary
word in a
sentence
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chapter while
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simplified
vocabulary word
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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
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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
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chapter while
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simplified
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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
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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."
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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."
Define - Nature
Vocabulary
word in a
sentence
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own life to show
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
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own life to show
that you understand
this book?