Jin Xin II · 孟子 7B.31

Passage 31

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「人rén皆jiē有yǒu所suǒ不bù忍rěn，達dá之zhī於wū其qí所suǒ忍rěn，仁rén也yě；人rén皆jiē有yǒu所suǒ不bù為wéi，達dá之zhī於wū其qí所suǒ為wéi，義yì也yě。人rén能néng充chōng『無wú欲yù害hài人rén』之zhī心xīn，而ér仁rén不bù可kě勝shèng用yòng也yě。人rén能néng充chōng『無wú穿chuān窬yú』之zhī心xīn，而ér義yì不bù可kě勝shèng用yòng也yě。人rén能néng充chōng無wú受shòu爾ěr汝rǔ之zhī實shí，無wú所suǒ往wǎng而ér不bù為wéi義yì也yě。士shì未wèi可kě以yǐ言yán而ér言yán，是shì以yǐ言yán餂tiǎn之zhī也yě；可kě以yǐ言yán而ér不bù言yán，是shì以yǐ不bù言yán餂tiǎn之zhī也yě。是shì皆jiē穿chuān逾yú之zhī類lèi也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.'