Benevolence as a Safe Home

English translation

Mencius said: Is the arrow maker really less benevolent than the armor maker? The arrow maker only fears that he will not injure people; the armor maker only fears that he will injure people. The shaman and the carpenter are likewise. Therefore one cannot but be careful in choosing one's craft. Confucius said: ‘To dwell in benevolence is best. If one chooses a dwelling but does not dwell in benevolence, how can one attain wisdom?’ Now benevolence is Heaven's noble rank and humanity's safe dwelling. When no one blocks him yet he is not benevolent, this is to be unwise. To be unbenevolent and unwise, without ritual propriety and without righteousness, is to be a servant of others. To be a servant of others and to be ashamed of serving is like the bow maker being ashamed of making bows or the arrow maker being ashamed of making arrows. If one is ashamed of it, nothing is better than practicing benevolence. The benevolent person is like an archer: the archer straightens himself and then shoots; if he shoots and does not hit the mark, he does not resent the one who surpasses him but simply seeks the cause in himself.