"The Analects" is a compilation of wise sayings by K’ung Ch’iu, or Confucius, which were compiled by his students after his death in 479 BC. According to the introduction, there are many attributes that Confucius thinks that men should follow in order to be a good person, as well as following the Way and the virtues, or hsien. Confucius believes that these principles should be everyone’s life goal. He states that the Way (tao), which can be passed down from teacher to student, is the truths of man and the world. Not only that, but Confucius discusses the four stages of a man. There is the sage, the good man, the complete man, and the gentleman . The sage is one that rarely anyone will ever reach; Confucius even says that he does not think that he is on that level because many do not realize this level. The good man refers to the heads of the government. The complete man is one that is ready for anything; basically he will sacrifice his life. The gentleman should acquire a very important virtue, which is benevolence. Benevolence is summarized as shu, which is what Americans would call ‘The Golden Rule’. Confucius believes that filial piety (father/mother and son) and t’i (older brother and younger brother). These are considered important from his point of view because if one is a good son and/or a good younger brother who respects his elder inside the household, then he will behave correctly in the outside world, or what we call the society. Some other values that are discussed throughout the discussion are li (rites, rituals or customs), chung (doing the best one can do), chih (intelligence), yung (courage), ching (reverence), hsin (to be reliable in word), kung (the visible appearance and manners), yi (righteousness), ming (bringing about of what comes to pass), t’ien ming (what a man should do), wen (beautiful qualities a man has acquired through education), and hsüeh (what enables a man to become better morally speaking). This essay will attempt to discuss the importance of filial piety, li, and the superior man. Why are they so important to one’s lifestyle? With all these values, Confucius created Jun Zi, the epitome of the typical man. It is what every man wants to be like in Confucianism. In addition to that thought, what about the women? It is curious to think why Confucius did not mention women as the main part of his teachings. Are women thought about not only in Confucianism, but also Confucius himself? I think that women are excluded overall due to their unimportance. The parent/son relationship, or filial piety, is treasured in Confucianism. Like stated previously, this is because when a young boy is growing up, he is expected to be the prime example of how to act, what to say, and who to respect, etc. Most importantly, the son must respect the father. For Confucius says “a young man should be a good son at home and an obedient young man abroad, sparing of speech but trustworthy in what he says, and should love the multitude at large but cultivate the friendship of his fellow men. If he has any energy to spare from such action, let him devote it to making himself cultivated (I.6).” Notice how there is a change in age – they start of as a son, then they can become a young man. As a son, one must answer his parents dutifully, and right away. He must make them proud by showing respect. Confucius also believes that a positive thing about being a good son is that it could be an influence towards the government. If the son is not respectful, then he will not have dutiful children in the future; they will disobey him and show no sympathy for this father. That is basically the father putting the curse on the son; and this is shameful in the family. Lastly, the son will get praise, and everyone in society will notice. For example, in Book XI, the master talks about Min Tzu-ch’ien, who indeed is a son. He says, “[w]hat a good son [he] is! No one can find fault with what his parents