# XXIV explained — Analects

> Chapter companion for Analects by Confucius.

## What happens

Confucius warns against improper sacrifice as flattery and emphasizes the courage required to act on what is right.

## Themes in this chapter

### Ritual and Propriety

Confucius warns against improper sacrifice, emphasizing that ritual acts must be aligned with proper relationships and not used as flattery.

### The Superior Man

The superior man is characterized by the courage to act on what is right, a central virtue in Confucian ethics.

## Character check-ins

### Confucius

Delivers two moral maxims on flattery and courage.

## Key lines

> For a man to sacrifice to a spirit which does not belong to him is flattery.

Offering sacrifices to a spirit that is not your own is an act of flattery.

_Confucius criticizes improper ritual acts as a form of flattery._

> To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.

Seeing what is right and failing to act on it is a lack of courage.

_Confucius emphasizes the importance of moral courage._

## Links

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