From a literary point of view, the Analects does not use many techniques, and is basically a flat and straightforward narrative. However, as a Confucian classic that touches on many aspects of human life, many chapters are talking about the issue of being a human being, which is of high reference significance for our contemporaries. Confucius believed that a person must be upright and upright, and a person's survival is due to integrity, and an upright person can also survive, that is only a fluke that he avoided disasters. In Confucius's view, only when you are upright and upright can you be open in your heart and have no worries about doing things. If we follow the logic of the development of things, those who are lucky enough to avoid disasters will sooner or later stumble.

Regarding life, the second key point that Confucius said is to attach importance to benevolence, which is one of the issues that Confucius emphasized the most on the issue of life. In Confucius's view, benevolence is the foundation of being a human being, and it is in the first place. Confucius said: Honoring one's parents at home, respecting one's teachers when going out, being modest and prudent, paying attention to integrity, having a heart of fraternity, and being particularly close to benevolence are the basic requirements of being a man; On top of that, you can read a few more books. Confucius also said: If a person does not have benevolence, it is useless to observe etiquette; If a person has no charity, he no longer needs to talk about etiquette.

This shows that it is only meaningful to do learning and learning etiquette and music on the basis of benevolence. Confucius believed that only benevolent people can treat others selflessly and be praised by people. A sensible and noble person can like those who are worthy of liking, and can dislike those who are disgusting. Qi Jinggong is a prince of a country, and Qi is a thousand-time country and is very rich. But even though he was powerful and powerful, when he died, no one in the people praised him, because he had no noble sentiments. Boyi Shuqi was a sage in the Shang Dynasty, after the Zhou people got the world, they did not eat Zhou Su, starved to death at the foot of Shouyang Mountain, and their noble sentiments are still praised by people today. What is remembered by future generations is not necessarily rich and powerful, only people with noble sentiments and good morals can be remembered for generations. This fully illustrates the value and power of benevolence.

So, what does it mean to be benevolent? When Yan Hui asked Confucius about this question, Confucius told him: restrain yourself and do everything according to the requirements of etiquette, this is benevolence. Once this is done, everything under heaven will be benevolent. The practice of benevolence lies entirely with oneself, not with others. To put it more specifically, the specific entry for practicing benevolence is: Don't look at what is not in line with etiquette, don't listen to what is not in line with etiquette, don't say what is not in line with etiquette, and don't do what is not in line with etiquette. Being able to take the initiative to practice the norms of etiquette is the right path in life, once you do your words and deeds in line with etiquette, people in the world will naturally praise you as a benevolent person.

Benevolence is not innate, but the result of self-cultivation and self-denial. Confucius also put forward the external criteria of benevolence, that is, strength, decisiveness, simplicity, and modesty of language, and people with these qualities are close to benevolence. At the same time, he also put forward the five standards for practicing benevolence, which are courtesy, generosity, faithfulness, diligence, and benevolence. He said: Treating people with kindness will not cause insults, being generous to others will win everyone's support, being faithful in dealings will be trusted by others, being diligent and sensitive will lead to success, and giving people kindness will be able to appeal to the people well. Confucius said that those who can practice these five virtues can be regarded as benevolent.

Of course, in Confucius's view, it is extremely difficult to fully achieve benevolence, so he also summarized the method of pursuing benevolence, that is, to study cultural classics extensively, and use etiquette to restrain one's behavior, so that one can not deviate from the right path. At the same time, we should also pay attention to learning from benevolent people, and use benevolent people to help us cultivate benevolence. A benevolent person should be able to stand on his own feet, but also make others have a foothold, he hopes to reach a certain height, and will help others to reach such a height, and he can push himself and others in everything, that is, "he wants to establish others, and he wants to reach others".

There is also the fact that a gentleman attaches great importance to the all-round development of his own self-cultivation. Zeng Zi said: Every day, I have to reflect on myself again and again, whether I have done my best to help others, whether I have been trustworthy in my interactions with friends, and whether I have reviewed the studies taught by my teachers on time. On the basis of moral cultivation, Confucius emphasized that we should also attach importance to all-round development. Confucius said: Ambition should be in line with the Tao, based on virtue, relying on benevolence, and activities in the six arts of etiquette, music, archery, royalty, calligraphy, and mathematics, only in this way can we truly do a good job in people.

So, why did Confucius emphasize all-round development? This reflects Confucius's understanding of human sociality and the mutual constraint of personal cultivation. Confucius said: Poetry can uplift people's spirits, etiquette can strengthen people's sentiments, and music can promote people's career success. Therefore, for personal cultivation, all-round development is extremely important. In modern society, we increasingly understand a truth, that is, the factors that affect a person's success are definitely not single, because success itself is the embodiment of a comprehensive quality, which is manifested in the overall aura. In fact, there are many such examples, people who practice martial arts play the piano very well, and some famous doctors have first-class calligraphy, and they are obviously entrepreneurs, and they sing very well. The successful experience of our predecessors has been placed in front of us, so we must pay attention to the all-round development of morality, intelligence, physical fitness, art and labor.

Here are a few sentences from the Analects about being a human being. Confucius said: If a person does not have a heart of benevolence, what is the use of observing etiquette? What is the use of propriety if a person does not have charity? What a gentleman values is righteousness, while what a villain values is profit. A sensible and noble person can like those who are worthy of liking, and can dislike those who are disgusting. (This sentence means to face up to your true thoughts and feelings, and not to like people who are disgusted with your conscience, like is to like, and to hate is to hate.) ）

The things that the gentleman and the villain think about every day are different, the gentleman is concerned about his own moral cultivation every day, and the villain only thinks about the little things in his own country. The gentleman always has a rule and law in his heart, and he never surpasses it, and the villain is full of thoughts about those small favors and small benefits. Confucius said: A gentleman is very cautious when he speaks, but very quick in action. (This sentence tells us to speak slowly, to think twice before speaking, not to be open-mouthed, to be open-mouthed; We must be active and agile, decisive and resolute in doing things, and do not drag our feet. Otherwise, if you say too much, you will lose, and trouble will come out of your mouth, but you don't know why, will you not miss a great thing; And if you are indecisive, the opportunity will be lost. ）

The above is the content of the Analects about being a human being, and the following is written about some things about character building. A lot of the Analects talks about the gentleman, but the gentleman here is a broad concept, emphasizing the pursuit of a personality and teaching people to be a non-mediocre person. In order to achieve this goal, the Analects set forth the standard of speech and deeds of a gentleman and the requirements of moral cultivation.

First, a gentleman is not a weapon. Confucius believed that as a gentleman, one must have multiple talents, and not just like an instrument, but only a unilateral role. A gentleman should take morality as the foundation of life, practice it according to the requirements of etiquette, express it with a humble attitude, and complete it with loyal beliefs.