Bornto a nobleman, butraisedinpovertyfrom a veryyoungagefollowingtheuntimelydeathofhisfather, Confuciusdevelopedwhatwouldbecome a lifelongsympathyforthesufferingofthecommonpeople.
Barelysupportinghismotheranddisabledbrotheras a herderandaccountkeeperat a granary, andwithotheroddjobs, itwasonlywiththehelpof a wealthyfriendthatConfuciuswasabletostudyattheRoyalArchives, wherehisworldviewwouldbeformed.
ButafteranotherstatesentLu's ruler a troopofdancinggirlsas a present, andtherulerignoredhisdutieswhileenjoyingthegirlsinprivate, Confuciusresignedindisgust.
ForthedisciplesofConfucius, hewasthelivingembodimentof a sagewholeadsothersthroughhisvirtue, andtheyrecordedhissayings, whicheventuallywereeditedinto a bookweknowinEnglishas "TheAnalects."