Jin Xin II · Passage 20 / 38 · 孟子 7B.20
Mencius 7B.20: the clear teach by their clarity
Mencius criticizes those who are inwardly confused yet rush to enlighten others. Teaching must begin with real light in the teacher.
孟子曰：「賢者以其昭昭，使人昭昭；今以其昏昏，使人昭昭。」
Mencius said, 'Anciently, men of virtue and talents by means of their own enlightenment made others enlightened. Nowadays, it is tried, while they are themselves in darkness, and by means of that darkness, to make others enlightened.'
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Central question
Why does Mencius stress that the worthy make others clear by means of their own clarity?
Direct answer
Because if one is still inwardly dim and disordered, trying to teach others usually spreads confusion rather than light. Mencius protects the order of formation: first become genuinely clear, then let that clarity reach outward.
First principle
Before trying to illuminate others, one must know that what one carries is not another form of darkness.
Why it matters
This passage serves searches around teaching, clarity, and Mencius on self-illumination. It is a key short text for the site's educational method cluster.
Further reading
What this passage is doing
This is passage 20 of 38 in Jin Xin II. The cleanest entry point is "Anciently, men of virtue and talents by means…". In context, it works as part of Mencius's argument about knowing words, knowing destiny, and the completion of cultivation and can be read alongside Flood-like qi, Human nature.
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Jin Xin II treats knowing words, knowing destiny, and the judgments proper to mature cultivation together.
Related principles
Citation note
Do not read it as saying one must be perfect before ever helping anyone. Mencius is emphasizing sequence and real work, not inventing an impossible threshold that forbids all teaching.