His Teachings Form A Sacred Text Known As The Analects

Confucius founded a school as a young man, which is where his reputation as a philosopher ultimately began. The institution, which drew in about 3,000 pupils, promoted education as a way of life rather than academic preparation. His teachings eventually served as the foundation for the Analects, one of China's most revered books.

The Analects contain a text known as "Three Obedience," which discusses how pupils should submit to their parents, superiors, and society at large. Do the best you can and leave the rest to heaven, advises Confucius in the Analects. Classical Confucianism holds that humans are only capable of giving their greatest effort in every undertaking. They can only try their best; they are powerless to change the world or choose their fate. They should therefore value what little they have while accepting with a positive outlook what they cannot alter because they live in an imperfect world with few resources and chances.

The Analects has been one of the most read texts in China for millennia, and is sometimes referred to as the "Chinese Bible" by some. It was initially written by Confucius' followers on flimsy bamboo sticks, and is a compilation of his most significant ideas and quotations.