By constructing the philosophy expressed through The Analects, Confucius might well dare to make such a claim. The Analects are a collection of Confucius's sayings, compiled by this pupils shortly after his death in 497 B.C., and they reflect the extent to which Confucius help up a moral ideal for all men. The aim is the perfection of one's moral character, the method one of arduous pursuit o such moral attributes as benevolence, wisdom, courage; the result is no recompense either in this life or the next to follow the Way must be its own reward. A harsh philosophy perhaps, but shining through it is the splendid intellect and spirit of one of the most reasonable and humane thinkers of all time. This volume contains an introduction, a bibliography and a glossary, and there are appendices on events in the life of Confucius, on The Analects themselves and on the Disciples who appear in them. The whole is a veritable feast of wisdom, philosophy and social morality.