Jin Xin II · 孟子 7B.33

Passage 33

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「堯yáo、舜shùn，性xìng者zhě也yě；湯tāng、武wǔ，反fǎn之zhī也yě。動dòng容róng周zhōu旋xuán中zhōng禮lǐ者zhě，盛shèng德dé之zhī至zhì也yě。哭kū死sǐ而ér哀āi，非fēi為wéi生shēng者zhě也yě。經jīng德dé不bù回huí，非fēi以yǐ干gān祿lù也yě。言yán語yǔ必bì信xìn，非fēi以yǐ正zhèng行xíng也yě。君jūn子zǐ行xíng法fǎ，以yǐ俟sì命mìng而ér已yǐ矣yǐ。」

Mencius said, 'Yao and Shun were what they were by nature; Tang and Wu were so by returning to natural virtue. When all the movements, in the countenance and every turn of the body, are exactly what is proper, that shows the extreme degree of the complete virtue. Weeping for the dead should be from real sorrow, and not because of the living. The regular path of virtue is to be pursued without any bend, and from no view to emolument. The words should all be necessarily sincere, not with any desire to do what is right. The superior man performs the law of right, and thereby waits simply for what has been appointed.'