• The Analects – Chapter 11.13

    When Min Ziqian stood by Confucius’s side, he appeared gentle and respectful; Zilu looked resolute and forceful; Ran You and Zigong were relaxed, cheerful, and articulate. Confucius was delighted. But then he sighed, “As for You (Zilu), I fear he will not meet a peaceful end.”

  • The Analects – Chapter 11.12

    Zilu asked how to serve ghosts and spirits. The Master said, “If you have not yet learned how to serve people, how can you serve ghosts and spirits?” Zilu ventured to ask further, “May I ask about death?” The Master replied, “If you do not yet understand life, how can you understand death?”

  • The Analects – Chapter 11.11

    After Yan Hui died, Confucius’s disciples wanted to give him an elaborate funeral. The Master said, “You must not do that.” Nevertheless, they gave him a lavish burial. Confucius then said, “Hui regarded me as a father, yet I was not allowed to treat him as a son. It was not my doing –…

  • The Analects – Chapter 11.10

    When Yan Hui died, Confucius wept with overwhelming grief. Those accompanying him said, “You are grieving excessively.” He replied, “Am I really grieving too much? If not for someone like him, for whom else should I grieve!”

  • The Analects – Chapter 11.9

    When Yan Hui died, Confucius cried out in grief: “Alas! Heaven is destroying me! Heaven is destroying me!”

  • The Analects – Chapter 11.8

    After Yan Hui died, his father Yan Lu asked Confucius to sell his carriage so that an outer coffin (guo) could be made for Yan Hui’s burial. Confucius replied, “Whether talented or not, when it comes to one’s son, each is speaking of his own child. When my son Li died, he had a…