Ghosting the World: When to Quit and When to Stay
Book 18 is all about a decision we all have to make: when things get too messy and toxic, do you stay and try to fix it, or do you just ghost everyone and go off the grid?
The Recluses
During his travels, Confucius kept running into “recluses”, people who had basically given up on society and were living as farmers or hermits. They were usually pretty smart and were tired of the corrupt politics of the time.
One of them, the “Madman of Chu,” even sang a song to Confucius as he went by. He was like, “Phoenix, phoenix, your virtue has declined! You can’t change the past, so just quit while you’re ahead. Those in office today are dangerous.”
Another time, his disciple Zilu asked two guys plowing a field for directions. They were like, “Isn’t your master that Kong guy from Lu who keeps running around trying to fix things? He should know where the way is! If everything is falling apart anyway, why not just join us in the mud?”
Why Stay?
Confucius actually respected these guys. He knew that staying in the game meant risking his reputation, his sanity, and maybe even his life. But he couldn’t bring himself to quit.
He said, “We cannot flock with birds and beasts, can we? Whom can I be with if not with other human beings? The world has a moral way, so I will not change places with those two.”
His point is that we are human, and being human means living with other humans. You can’t just run away from the world’s problems because you’re “too good” for them. If the world is a mess, that’s exactly why you need to stay and try to make it even slightly better.
The Realistic Master
At the end of the day, Confucius is a realist. He tells his disciples that he doesn’t have any preconceived ideas about what he “can or cannot do.” He just takes it day by day, looks at the situation, and tries to do the right thing.
He’s not a martyr, but he’s also not a quitter. He’s just a guy who refuses to ghost humanity, even when humanity is being a total disaster.
Previous: Book 17: Nature vs. Nurture Next: Book 19: The Legacy of the Disciples
Book Metadata: Title: The Analects Author: Confucius Translator: Annping Chin ISBN: 9780698153516