Gao Zi I · 孟子 6A.18

Passage 18

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「仁rén之zhī勝shèng不bù仁rén也yě，猶yóu水shuǐ之zhī勝shèng火huǒ。今jīn之zhī為wéi仁rén者zhě，猶yóu以yǐ一yì杯bēi水shuǐ救jiù一yì車jū薪xīn之zhī火huǒ也yě。不bù熄xī，則zé謂wèi之zhī水shuǐ不bú勝shèng火huǒ。此cǐ又yòu與yǔ於wū不bù仁rén之zhī甚shèn者zhě也yě，亦yì終zhōng必bì亡wáng而ér已yǐ矣yǐ。」

Mencius said, 'Benevolence subdues its opposite just as water subdues fire. Those, however, who now-a-days practise benevolence do it as if with one cup of water they could save a whole waggon-load of fuel which was on fire, and when the flames were not extinguished, were to say that water cannot subdue fire. This conduct, moreover, greatly encourages those who are not benevolent. The final issue will simply be this: the loss of that small amount of benevolence.'