# XLI explained — Analects

> Chapter companion for Analects by Confucius.

## What happens

Tsze-lû spends the night at Shih-mǎn, where the gatekeeper questions him about his master, Confucius, and remarks on Confucius's awareness of the impracticality of the times yet his persistence in trying to reform them.

## Themes in this chapter

### Virtuous Governance

Confucius's persistence in attempting to govern rightly despite the impracticality of the times.

## Character check-ins

### Tsze-lû

Passes the night in Shih-mǎn and converses with the gatekeeper.

### Confucius

Referred to as Mr. K’ung; noted for knowing the impracticable nature of the times yet continuing his efforts.

## Key lines

> Whom do you come from?

From whom have you come?

_The gatekeeper asks Tsze-lû about his origin._

> It is he—is it not?—who knows the impracticable nature of the times and yet will be doing in them.

Is he not the one who knows the times are hopeless but still tries to act?

_The gatekeeper characterizes Confucius as a man who persists despite knowing the futility._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/analects_se/chapters/xli
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/analects_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/analects_se/chapters