Mencius said, "If you don't kiss your lover, you will be benevolent; Treating people without cure is contrary to their wisdom; Courtesy people don't answer, but they respect them-those who do not do well are all self-seeking, and their integrity is returned to the world. As the poem goes,' Always say what you want, and seek more happiness from yourself.

Mencius said, "If you love others but you can't get close to them, you should ask yourself if your kindness is not enough.": If you can't manage others well, you should ask yourself whether there is a problem with your management intelligence; If you are polite to others, but you can't get the corresponding courtesy from others, you should ask yourself whether your manners are home-if your behavior can't get the expected effect, you should check yourself in turn. If you behave yourself correctly, people all over the world will naturally submit. The Book of Poetry says:' Cooperate with destiny for a long time and seek more happiness by yourself.

understanding

We have heard Mencius say in "On the Ugliness of Gongsun": "The benevolent is like shooting: the shooter is self-sufficient; If you miss, you won't complain about yourself, but you will ask for yourself. "

the meaning is the same. From the perspective of personal quality, it is strict with self-discipline, lenient with others, and self-criticism in everything. That is to say, Confucius said, "it is far from complaining to bow to others and blame others." (The Analects of Confucius, Wei Linggong)

From the perspective of governing national politics, it is to be right for oneself and to be right for others. "Its body is right, and it is not ordered; His body is not right, although he does not obey. " (The Analects of Confucius Zi Lu)

Confucian politics emphasizes starting from oneself and starting from things around, so it is closely linked with personal qualities. Self-criticism is one of its means, and its related expositions can be said to be numerous in The Analects of Confucius and Mencius. Of course, there are really too few people who can really do it through the ages, so it is still necessary to emphasize it.

People have their own words, and the country under heaven

The original text

Mencius said, "People have their own words, and they all say,' The country under heaven.' The foundation of the world is in the country, the foundation of the country is at home, and the foundation of the home is in the body.

Translation

Mencius said: "People have a colloquial saying that all countries are under heaven." The foundation of the world is the country, the country is the home, and the home is the individual. "

Reading

We often say today," How can there be a home without a country? Where can I be without a home? "

It seems that the number of paths is just the opposite of what Mencius said.

the key is different starting points.

Today, we face interests and demand dedication, so we emphasize the public and forget the private, putting others before ourselves; First country, then collective, then individual.

Confucians emphasize moral self-improvement and demand self-cultivation, so they put themselves first and others second. "After the body is repaired, the family is neat, the family is neat and then the country is ruled, and the country is ruled and then the world is flat." (University Classics)

It can be seen that although the number of roads is reversed, the truth is the same: they all demand to contribute to others, the collective, the country and mankind. This is the most fundamental.

The water is clear, but the water is muddy.

The original text

Mencius said, "What can you say to the unkind?" It's good to be in danger, and it's good to be dead. If you are unkind and can speak, then why is it that you have lost your country? There is a song by a monk saying,' The water in Canglang ② is clear, so I can hold my tassel ③; The falling water is muddy, and it can be used to my feet. " Confucius said,' Listen, boy! It is enough to be clear and clear. It's also self-inflicted. " Madame will insult herself, but later generations will insult her; Home will destroy itself, and then people will destroy it; The country will cut itself, and then people will cut it. "Tai Jia" ⑤:' Heaven is guilty, but it can still be violated; You can't live if you commit crimes yourself. " This is also called. "

Note

①" disaster ". ② Canglang: There are many explanations by predecessors. Or think it is the name of water (branch of Hanshui River), or think it is a place name (north of Junxian County, Hubei Province), or think it refers to the color of water (cyan color). All kinds of ideas do not affect the understanding of the original text. ③ Zhuo: Wash. ⑤ tassels: ribbons for tying hats. ⑤ Tai Jia says: This sentence has been quoted in On the Ugly Sun (3.4). See.

translation

Mencius said, "Can people who are not human consult with him? They feel at ease with other people's dangers, profit from other people's disasters, and take things that lead to family destruction as fun. If an unkind person can consult with him, how can something happen? Once upon a time, there was a child who sang:' The water in the surging waves is clear, you can wash my hat tassels; The muddy water in the surging waves can wash my feet.' Confucius listened and said,' Listen up, disciples! Clear water is used to wash hats and tassels, and muddy water is used to wash feet, all because of the water itself. " Therefore, a person always has bring disgrace to oneself's behavior first, and others insult him; A family always has the factor of self-destruction before others destroy it; A country always has its own reasons to crusade before others crusade against it. "Shang Shu Tai Jia" said:' The disasters that have fallen from heaven can still escape; There is no escape for the sins you have caused. " That's what I meant.

Reading

The uses of water are both expensive and cheap ("Zhuo Ying" and "Zhuo Zu"), because water is clear and turbid, and people are expensive and cheap, so isn't it caused by themselves?

not only individuals, but also a family and a country.

People dare to despise others because they have no self-esteem; Because the family is not harmonious, the "third party" has a gap; The country was in turmoil, and the enemy took the opportunity to invade. All these are proved by too many examples. Today, we said that "base protection is the easiest to break through from the Ministry of Force", which is actually what we mean.