"When the multitude hates a person, you must examine them and judge for yourself. The same holds true for someone who the multitude loves." (Book 15: 28) This is something that happens constantly in our society. Those who are hated will always be and those who are loved will remain loved. But no, this shouldn’t work this way. You should never base your opinion on that of others for you should first examine that hated person and judge for yourself. The same goes for that loved by most of the population, your opinion is unique and that of others shall not influence it.
“Is it not understanding? Do not oppose on others what you yourself do not desire." (Book 15: 24) And again, I find myself facing a quote that I can apply in my future. In one of the previous Books that I’ve read, I found another quote with the same meaning. “What I do not wish others to undo unto me, I also wish not to do unto others." (Book 5: 12) I believe that the message being transmitted is repeated various times for it is of great importance. No, it is not a mistake to find it more than once in the context, since it is being repeated for you to not commit a mistake. Talking about mistakes, they are indeed mentioned in this Book as well. It had been previously stated that in the Way, some make mistakes and don’t achieve Goodness. But what is making a mistake? What is called to truly make a mistake is to make a mistake and yet not learn from it.
In Book Seventeen, the Master gives away six important key terms and states that without the love of learning, these virtues will make you love vices. These six virtues were the following: Goodness, Wisdom, Trustworthiness, Uprightness, Courage, and Resoluteness. Goodness: Loving Goodness without the love of learning will make you love foolishness. Wisdom: Loving Wisdom without the love of learning will make you love deviance. Trustworthiness: Loving Trustworthiness without the love of learning will make you love harmful rigidity. Uprightness: Loving Uprightness without the love of learning will make you love intolerance. Courage: Loving Courage without the love of learning will make you love unruliness. Resoluteness: Loving Resoluteness without the love of learning will make you love willfulness.
Afterwards, Confucius is mentioned for the first time. But wait, isn’t he the Master? Why is he introduced in the Analects and under that context? Anyways, he appears to be this rural and innocent guy with not that high of a charge. Well, after all he is found holding the horse’s reins, or is that of much importance? I noticed that it was the first time in which the writing style was in chronological order, or at least that’s what it seemed to me. "The fellow holding the reins there- who is he?" "That is Confucius." (Book 18: 6) I’m beginning to think that the following Books might be in chronological order as well, since they might be based on Confucius’ story of how he got to be into a complete gentleman. After all, that’s what he is. Or isn't he?
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