Chapter 12: 颜渊第十二 — Lunyu — Taiyi Pavilion Chapter 12: 颜渊第十二
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Yan Yuan asked about benevolence. The Master said, "To restrain oneself and return to ritual is benevolence. If for one day you can restrain yourself and return to ritual, the whole world will turn toward benevolence. Does benevolence come from yourself, or from others?" Yan Yuan said, "May I ask for the specific steps?" The Master said, "Do not look at what is contrary to ritual, do not listen to what is contrary to ritual, do not speak what is contrary to ritual, do not act in any way contrary to ritual." Yan Yuan said, "Though I am not quick-witted, I will devote myself to these words."
Zhong Gong asked about benevolence. The Master said, "When you go out, behave as if meeting an important guest. When you employ the people, act as if conducting a great sacrifice. Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire. In public life, have no resentments; in private life, have no resentments." Zhong Gong said, "Though I am not quick-witted, I will devote myself to these words."
Sima Niu asked about benevolence. The Master said, "The benevolent person is slow to speak." Sima Niu said, "Being slow to speak—is that what makes someone benevolent?" The Master said, "When doing something is difficult, can one afford not to be slow in speaking about it?" Sima Niu asked about the exemplary person. The Master said, "The exemplary person has no worries and no fears." Sima Niu said, "Having no worries and no fears—is that what makes someone an exemplary person?" The Master said, "When you examine yourself and find no fault, what is there to worry about, what is there to fear?" Sima Niu said with concern, "Everyone has brothers—I alone have none!" Zi Xia said, "I have heard this: Life and death are determined by fate; wealth and honor depend on Heaven. The exemplary person is reverent and without fault, respectful and courteous toward others. Within the four seas, all people are brothers. Why should the exemplary person worry about having no brothers?"
Zi Zhang asked about clarity. The Master said, "When slander that soaks in gradually and accusations that sting like skin-deep wounds no longer work on you, you can be called clear-sighted. When slander that soaks in gradually and accusations that sting like skin-deep wounds no longer work on you, you can be called far-sighted."
Zi Gong asked about governance. The Master said, "Sufficient food, sufficient military, and the people's trust in their ruler." Zi Gong said, "If forced to give up one of these three, which should go first?" The Master said, "Give up the military." Zi Gong said, "If forced to give up one of the remaining two, which should go first?" The Master said, "Give up food. Death has always been the lot of all people, but without trust, a people cannot stand."
Ji Zi Cheng said, "The exemplary person needs only substance—why bother with refinement?" Zi Gong said, "What a pity, sir, that you speak of the exemplary person this way—a team of horses cannot take back a word. Refinement is as important as substance; substance is as important as refinement. The hide of a tiger or leopard, stripped of its hair, is no different from the hide of a dog or sheep."
Duke Ai asked You Ruo, "In a year of famine, revenue is insufficient—what should be done?" You Ruo replied, "Why not use the one-tenth tax?" The Duke said, "With two-tenths, I still have not enough—how could I use one-tenth?" You Ruo replied, "When the people have enough, how can the ruler alone not have enough? When the people do not have enough, how can the ruler alone have enough?"
Zi Zhang asked about elevating virtue and recognizing confusion. The Master said, "Make loyalty and trustworthiness your foundation, and move toward what is right—this is elevating virtue. When you love someone, you want them to live; when you hate them, you want them to die. To want both life and death for the same person—that is confusion. 'It is not about wealth, but simply about being different.'"
Duke Jing of Qi asked Confucius about governance. Confucius replied, "Let the ruler be a ruler, the minister a minister, the father a father, the son a son." The Duke said, "Excellent! Truly, if the ruler is not a ruler, the minister not a minister, the father not a father, the son not a son—even if there is grain, would I get to eat it?"
The Master said, "The one who can settle a lawsuit with a single statement—is that not You?" Zi Lu never let a promise stand overnight.
The Master said, "In hearing lawsuits, I am no different from others. What I truly want is to make lawsuits unnecessary."
Zi Zhang asked about governance. The Master said, "Be tireless in your duties, and carry them out with loyalty."
The Master said, "Broadly study culture and restrain yourself with ritual—then you will not go astray."
The Master said, "The exemplary person helps others achieve what is good, not what is bad. The petty person does the opposite."
Ji Kang Zi asked Confucius about governance. Confucius replied, "Governing means being upright. If you lead with uprightness, who dares to be crooked?" Ji Kang Zi was troubled by theft and asked Confucius about it. Confucius replied, "If you yourself were not greedy, even if you rewarded people for stealing, they would not do it." Ji Kang Zi asked Confucius about governance, saying, "What if I kill those who are not good to help those who are good?" Confucius replied, "In governing, why use killing? If you desire what is good, the people will be good. The virtue of the leader is the wind; the virtue of the people is the grass. When the wind blows, the grass must bend."
Zi Zhang asked, "What must a scholar-official be like to be called 'accomplished'?" The Master said, "What do you mean by 'accomplished'?" Zi Zhang replied, "Being famous in the state and famous in the family." The Master said, "That is fame, not accomplishment. The accomplished person is straightforward and loves what is right, observes people's words and expressions, and is thoughtful in deferring to others. Such a person will be accomplished in the state and accomplished in the family. As for the one who seeks fame, he puts on a show of benevolence but acts against it, and is confident in this pretense. Such a person will be famous in the state and famous in the family."
Fan Chi was strolling with the Master under the Rain Altar and said, "May I ask about elevating virtue, correcting faults, and recognizing confusion?" The Master said, "An excellent question! Put effort first and reward later—is that not elevating virtue? Attack your own faults, not the faults of others—is that not correcting faults? In a moment of anger, to forget yourself and even your loved ones—is that not confusion?" Fan Chi asked about benevolence. The Master said, "Love others." He asked about wisdom. The Master said, "Know others." Fan Chi did not fully understand. The Master said, "Lift up the straight and set them over the crooked, and you can make the crooked straight." Fan Chi withdrew and saw Zi Xia, saying, "Just now I saw the Master and asked about wisdom. He said, 'Lift up the straight and set them over the crooked, and you can make the crooked straight.' What does that mean?" Zi Xia said, "What rich words! When Shun ruled the world, he chose from among the people and lifted up Gao Yao—and those who were not benevolent kept their distance. When Tang ruled the world, he chose from among the people and lifted up Yi Yin—and those who were not benevolent kept their distance."
Zi Gong asked about friendship. The Master said, "Give loyal advice and guide them well. If that doesn't work, stop—don't bring shame on yourself."
Zeng Zi said, "The exemplary person makes friends through culture and relies on friends to cultivate benevolence."