Human Nature Like Willow

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English translation

Original Chinese text

English translation

Gaozi said, “Human nature is like the willow; righteousness is like cups and bowls made from willow. To fashion human nature into benevolence and righteousness is like fashioning willow into cups and bowls.”

Original Chinese text

English translation

Mencius said, “Can you make cups and bowls by following the willow’s own nature? Or must you injure and force the willow before it can become cups and bowls? If you must injure the willow to make them, must you likewise injure people in order to make them benevolent and righteous? Your words would lead everyone under Heaven to bring harm to benevolence and righteousness.”

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