Acting as an inspiration to the people of China and East Asia, "The Analects" affirms a humanistic ethic. This translation of the work aims to break down the stereotypical Confucius, showing him to have been a man of passion, enthusiasm and action, whose vocation was politics, and who saw his world sink into violent barbarity. Unable to secure the political role he sought, he engaged his crumbling culture in ethical debate, exercising his moral duty to reform society and restore its former glory. In this translation of the work, Confucius seems to be addressing the problems of our own age.