Jin Xin II · 孟子 7B.24

Passage 24

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「口kǒu之zhī於wū味wèi也yě，目mù之zhī於wū色sè也yě，耳ěr之zhī於wū聲shēng也yě，鼻bí之zhī於wū臭chòu也yě，四sì肢zhī之zhī於wū安ān佚yì也yě；性xìng也yě，有yǒu命mìng焉yān，君jūn子zǐ不bú謂wèi性xìng也yě。仁rén之zhī於wū父fù子zǐ也yě，義yì之zhī於wū君jūn臣chén也yě，禮lǐ之zhī於wū賓bīn主zhǔ也yě，知zhī之zhī於wū賢xián者zhě也yě，聖shèng人rén之zhī於wū天tiān道dào也yě；命mìng也yě，有yǒu性xìng焉yān，君jūn子zǐ不bú謂wèi命mìng也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."'