Analects books 12-14

In these books, it is widely spoken of government and one line that caught my attention was 12.9 when the Master says: “If the common people’s needs are satisfied, how their lord could be lacking? If the common people’s needs, are not satisfied, how can their lord be content?” This line I find very interesting because it is stating that If you put yourself after others, then you will be happy when they are, but if you put yourself before, then you will only find misery in their lacking. This, in my opinion, is fairly true. I do believe that you experience greater joy when you give than when you are given to. Sometimes witnessing joy is far better than actually living it.

Another line was 13.16, when the Master says: “(Act so that) those near to you are pleased, and those who are far from you are drawn closer.” This line I believe makes a lot of sense, for when you are good to those who are near you, your goodness will expand and those who are not so close will want to know of it and come to you.

Line 14.4 says: “Those who are good will necessarily display courage, but those who display courage are not necessarily Good.” This line speaks of how being something may require you to possess a certain quality, but possessing this, does not necessarily make you that that possesses this quality. For example, to be honorable you must be brave, but being brave doesn’t make you honorable. Some of us think that possessing one quality or characteristic automatically makes us worthy or, in this case, Good, but that is something we cannot take for granted.