Jin Xin I · Passage 41 / 46 · 孟子 7A.41

Mencius 7A.41: high standards should not be lowered

Mencius argues that teaching may guide learners, but it must not corrupt the standard itself in order to make the Way feel easier.

公孫丑曰：「道則高矣、美矣，宜若登天然，似不可及也。何不使彼為可幾及而日孳孳也？」孟子曰：「大匠不為拙工改廢繩墨；羿不為拙射變其彀率。君子引而不發，躍如也。中道而立，能者從之。」

gōng sūn chǒu yuē：「dào zé gāo yǐ、 měi yǐ， yí ruò dēng tiān rán， sì bù kě jí yě。 hé bù shǐ bǐ wéi kě jī jí ér rì zī zī yě？」 mèng zǐ yuē：「dà jiàng bù wéi zhuō gōng gǎi fèi shéng mò； yì bù wéi zhuō shè biàn qí gòu lǜ。 jūn zǐ yǐn ér bù fā， yuè rú yě。 zhōng dào ér lì， néng zhě cóng zhī。」

Gong Sun Chou said, 'Lofty are your principles and admirable, but to learn them may well be likened to ascending the heavens - something which cannot be reached. Why not adapt your teaching so as to cause learners to consider them attainable, and so daily exert themselves!' Mencius said, 'A great artificer does not, for the sake of a stupid workman, alter or do away with the marking-line. Yi did not, for the sake of a stupid archer, charge his rule for drawing the bow. The superior man draws the bow, but does not discharge the arrow, having seemed to leap with it to the mark; and he there stands exactly in the middle of the path. Those who are able, follow him.'

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Central question

Why does Mencius refuse to lower the Way so that learners can feel it more attainable?

Direct answer

Because once the measure is distorted, later diligence only works harder in the wrong direction. A teacher should lead without firing the arrow, not bend the standard to fit incapacity.

First principle

Educational mercy does not mean lowering the true measure. It means preserving the measure while guiding people toward a real approach to it.

Why it matters

This passage serves searches around pedagogy, standards, attainment, and why Mencius couples guidance with uncompromised measure.

What this passage is doing

This is passage 41 of 46 in Jin Xin I. The cleanest entry point is "Lofty are your principles and admirable, but to…". In context, it works as part of Mencius's argument about exhausting the heart, sincerity, and preserving the original heart and can be read alongside Humane government / kingly way.

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