Jin Xin II · Passage 24 / 38 · 孟子 7B.24

Mencius 7B.24: distinction between nature and appointment

Mencius is not playing abstract metaphysics. He is drawing a practical line: natural desire should not be lazily justified as nature.

孟子曰：「口之於味也，目之於色也，耳之於聲也，鼻之於臭也，四肢之於安佚也；性也，有命焉，君子不謂性也。仁之於父子也，義之於君臣也，禮之於賓主也，知之於賢者也，聖人之於天道也；命也，有性焉，君子不謂命也。」

mèng zǐ yuē：「kǒu zhī wū wèi yě， mù zhī wū sè yě， ěr zhī wū shēng yě， bí zhī wū chòu yě， sì zhī zhī wū ān yì yě； xìng yě， yǒu mìng yān， jūn zǐ bú wèi xìng yě。 rén zhī wū fù zǐ yě， yì zhī wū jūn chén yě， lǐ zhī wū bīn zhǔ yě， zhī zhī wū xián zhě yě， shèng rén zhī wū tiān dào yě； mìng yě， yǒu xìng yān， jūn zǐ bú wèi mìng yě。」

Mencius said, 'For the mouth to desire sweet tastes, the eye to desire beautiful colours, the ear to desire pleasant sounds, the nose to desire fragrant odours, and the four limbs to desire ease and rest - these things are natural. But there is the appointment of Heaven in connexion with them, and the superior man does not say of his pursuit of them, "It is my nature." The exercise of love between father and son, the observance of righteousness between sovereign and minister, the rules of ceremony between guest and host, the display of knowledge in recognising the talented, and the fulfilling the heavenly course by the sage - these are the appointment of Heaven. But there is an adaptation of our nature for them. The superior man does not say, in reference to them, "It is the appointment of Heaven."'