Jin Xin II · Passage 32 / 38 · 孟子 7B.32
Mencius 7B.32: weed your own field before others
Mencius diagnoses a familiar disorder: demanding much from others while requiring little from oneself.
孟子曰：「言近而指遠者，善言也；守約而施博者，善道也。君子之言也，不下帶而道存焉。君子之守，修其身而天下平。人病舍其田而芸人之田，所求於人者重，而所以自任者輕。」
Mencius said, 'Words which are simple, while their meaning is far-reaching, are good words. Principles which, as held, are compendious, while their application is extensive, are good principles. The words of the superior man do not go below the girdle, but great principles are contained in them. The principle which the superior man holds is that of personal cultivation, but the kingdom is thereby tranquillized. The disease of men is this: that they neglect their own fields, and go to weed the fields of others, and that what they require from others is great, while what they lay upon themselves is light.'
Priority note
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Central question
Why does Mencius say that people neglect their own field and go to weed the fields of others?
Direct answer
Because it is easier to correct, organize, and demand from others than to cultivate one's own heart and duties. Such outward zeal often grows together with inward neglect.
First principle
When self-cultivation is not seriously borne first, public passion easily degenerates into outward control rather than ordered responsibility.
Why it matters
This passage strongly serves searches around self-cultivation, criticism of others, and Mencius on demanding more from others than from oneself.
Further reading
What this passage is doing
This is passage 32 of 38 in Jin Xin II. The cleanest entry point is "Words which are simple, while their meaning is…". 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 Humane government / kingly way.
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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 a call to withdraw and mind only your own business. Mencius is opposing external correction built on internal neglect, not opposing wider responsibility itself.