Along with Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean, and Mencius, this work is one of the Four Books.
One character in this text is chastised for excessive mourning of a favored disciple who "does not lapse from benevolence" for three months. That character compares virtue to the "Pole Star" and merely asks "Was anyone hurt?" when his stables caught fire. The central figure of this work venerates Yao and Shun but notes that bringing peace and security to the people would have been taxing for even them. A section in this text emphasizes the proper use of names to denote the way things are, a practice termed the rectification of names. Along with Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean, and Mencius, this work is one of the Four Books. This work stresses cultivating virtue, or ren, through practicing li and filial piety. For 10 points, name this collection of sayings by Confucius and his followers.
One character in this text is chastised for excessive mourning of a favored disciple who "does not lapse from benevolence" for three months.
The Analects [or Lunyu]