~ 475–221 BC ~
The Analects, attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius and his contemporaries, is an ancient Chinese book composed of sayings and ideas that has been compiled and written by Confucius's followers. Confucius believed that the welfare of a country depended on the moral cultivation of its people, beginning from the nation's leadership. He taught that individuals could cultivate an all-encompassing sense of virtue through acts of kindness and devotion to others. The Analects has been widely-read and studied in China for over 2,000 years and continues to influence Chinese and East Asian thought and values today.