Jin Xin II · Passage 31 / 38 · 孟子 7B.31

Mencius 7B.31: extend what people already cannot bear

Benevolence and righteousness are not manufactured from nothing. They grow by extending limits and sensitivities that already exist in every person.

孟子曰：「人皆有所不忍，達之於其所忍，仁也；人皆有所不為，達之於其所為，義也。人能充『無欲害人』之心，而仁不可勝用也。人能充『無穿窬』之心，而義不可勝用也。人能充無受爾汝之實，無所往而不為義也。士未可以言而言，是以言餂之也；可以言而不言，是以不言餂之也。是皆穿逾之類也。」

mèng zǐ yuē：「rén jiē yǒu suǒ bù rěn， dá zhī wū qí suǒ rěn， rén yě； rén jiē yǒu suǒ bù wéi， dá zhī wū qí suǒ wéi， yì yě。 rén néng chōng 『wú yù hài rén』 zhī xīn， ér rén bù kě shèng yòng yě。 rén néng chōng 『wú chuān yú』 zhī xīn， ér yì bù kě shèng yòng yě。 rén néng chōng wú shòu ěr rǔ zhī shí， wú suǒ wǎng ér bù wéi yì yě。 shì wèi kě yǐ yán ér yán， shì yǐ yán tiǎn zhī yě； kě yǐ yán ér bù yán， shì yǐ bù yán tiǎn zhī yě。 shì jiē chuān yú zhī lèi yě。」

Mencius said, 'All men have some things which they cannot bear; extend that feeling to what they can bear, and benevolence will be the result. All men have some things which they will not do; extend that feeling to the things which they do, and righteousness will be the result. If a man can give full development to the feeling which makes him shrink from injuring others, his benevolence will be more than can be called into practice. If he can give full development to the feeling which refuses to break through, or jump over, a wall, his righteousness will be more than can be called into practice. If he can give full development to the real feeling of dislike with which he receives the salutation, "Thou," "Thou," he will act righteously in all places and circumstances. When a scholar speaks what he ought not to speak, by guile of speech seeking to gain some end; and when he does not speak what he ought to speak, by guile of silence seeking to gain some end; both these cases are of a piece with breaking through a neighbour's wall.'