离娄上 · 第 19 / 28 章 · 孟子 4A.19
《孟子·离娄上》4A.19:事亲为大,守身为大
孟子把孝与修身连在一起:真正能事亲者,先要不失其身。只喂养口体而不养其志,并不算把亲情照顾到了根上。
孟子曰:「事孰为大?事亲为大。守孰为大?守身为大。不失其身而能事其亲者,吾闻之矣;失其身而能事其亲者,吾未之闻也。孰不为事?事亲,事之本也。孰不为守?守身,守之本也。曾子养曾晳,必有酒肉;将彻,必请所与;问有余,必曰『有』。曾晳死,曾元养曾子,必有酒肉;将彻,不请所与;问有余,曰『亡矣』,将以复进也,此所谓养口体者也。若曾子,则可谓养志也。事亲若曾子者,可也。」
英文参考译文
Mencius said, 'Of services, which is the greatest? The service of parents is the greatest. Of charges, which is the greatest ? The charge of one's self is the greatest. That those who do not fail to keep themselves are able to serve their parents is what I have heard. But I have never heard of any, who, having failed to keep themselves, were able notwithstanding to serve their parents. There are many services, but the service of parents is the root of all others. There are many charges, but the charge of one's self is the root of all others. The philosopher Zeng, in nourishing Zeng Xi, was always sure to have wine and flesh provided. And when they were being removed, he would ask respectfully to whom he should give what was left. If his father asked whether there was anything left, he was sure to say, "There is." After the death of Zeng Xi, when Zeng Yuan came to nourish Zengzi, he was always sure to have wine and flesh provided. But when the things were being removed, he did not ask to whom he should give what was left, and if his father asked whether there was anything left, he would answer "No;" - intending to bring them in again. This was what is called "nourishing the mouth and body." We may call Zengzi's practice "nourishing the will." To serve one's parents as Zengzi served his, may be accepted as flial piety.'
重点修订页
人工补强的解释层
核心问题
为什么孟子说“事亲为大”,同时又说“守身为大”?
直接回答
因为若一个人先把自己败坏掉,就算表面还能供养父母,也已经失去事亲的根基。真正的孝,不只在奉养,更在不失其身、能养其志。
第一性原理
关系责任若脱离人格根基,就会退化成表面履行;守身不是自私,而是让自己还能承担更深责任的前提。
为什么重要
这章适合承接“事亲为大”“守身为大”“filial piety and self-cultivation”这类搜索,也补足整站在人伦层面的解释深度。
延伸阅读
这章在做什么
这章是《离娄上》第 19 / 28 章,最直接的进入线索是“事孰为大”。放回全卷,它讨论的是自反、乱世与守道,并可与性善互相印证。
更宽的搜索入口
如果你带着更宽的问题进入这一章,先从正确的 hub 页进入
全卷语境
《离娄上》经常从自反与守道的角度讨论乱世中的行动标准。
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引用提示
不要把它读成孝与自我保存对立。孟子正是在说明:不守其身的人,最终也无法把孝真正做到底。