The words come from "The Analects of Confucius·Xianwen" Chapter 14, Part 4.

Confucius said: "Those who are virtuous must have words, and those who have words do not need to be virtuous. Those who are benevolent must be brave, and those who are brave do not need to be benevolent."

Benevolence

In Confucian culture, "virtue" and "benevolence" are usually synonymous, and "governing with virtue" means "governing with benevolence". Virtue is also often called "benevolence".

In fact, what this chapter talks about is the relationship between "benevolence", "wisdom" and "courage". "The Doctrine of the Mean" says: "Knowledge, benevolence, and courage are the three virtues in the world." Benevolence, courage, wisdom, "benevolence" is the name of "complete virtue". "Benevolence" includes courage and wisdom. Benevolence is higher than wisdom, and wisdom is higher than courage. In other words, courage is inferior to wisdom, and wisdom is inferior to kindness. The benevolent man is one level higher than the brave man.

Example

There is a dialogue in "The Analects of Confucius·Shu'er", which shows Confucius's different evaluations of the realms of benevolent and brave men: "Confucius said to Yan Yuan: 'Use it accordingly. Go, leave it and hide it, only I and you can do it! "Zi Lu said: "Who will follow the three armies of Zi?" Zi said: "Those who fight against the river and die without regrets will definitely do so. Those who are afraid of things are those who like to make plans. '"

Confucius said to Yan Yuan: "If you use me, take active action; if you don't use me, just hide." Go!" Zilu said: "If you were to lead the three armies, who would you like to work with?" Confucius said: "The person who fights tigers with bare hands and crosses rivers on foot, even if he dies, will not regret it? I will not have sex with him. The person I am looking for to have sex must be someone who is cautious, good at planning and able to complete tasks."

Yan Hui insists. Confucius praised him for his attitude of living with self-sacrifice, practice and possession, and praised him as the benevolence of a gentleman.

In "The Analects of Confucius Gongye Chang", Confucius said: "If it is true that the proposition cannot be implemented, I would like to float overseas on a raft (the road is not good, float on the sea on rafts). But those who follow me, I'm afraid it's just Zhong Yu, right?" Zi Lu was very happy after hearing this. Confucius said: "Zhong You's brave spirit is much better than mine, but he is not good at deciding things."

Poor Zi Lu was considered by Confucius to be brave as an ordinary man.

A person who is benevolent and cultivated must have courage and be a brave person with great wisdom and courage. But just having courage does not necessarily mean you have benevolence. The courage of an ordinary man who fights fiercely is also courage. A person with such courage cannot be regarded as benevolent.

About the relationship between "benevolence" and "courage"

"The Analects of Confucius" quotes Li Chong as saying: "Those who speak sweetly and sharply, but seem to be false, are also sycophants and clever words." Success or failure depends on the words of a lobbyist, and those who talk in many directions are the words of a distinguished person. The sound of virtue is high and combined, and the sound is heard all over the world, like gold and stone, words of virtue. Yes. Therefore, if you are virtuous, you must have words, and if you have words, you do not have to be virtuous. He who does not avoid tigers when walking on land is brave enough to be brave. He who does not avoid the biting dragon when walking on water is brave enough to keep his sharp edge in front of him. A martyr is brave even if he is alive. He who understands the fate of poverty, knows how to deal with it, and does not act against it is the brave man who is benevolent. "