Nature and One’s Allotted Share

Contents

Text

English translation

Original Chinese text

English translation

Mencius said, “A noble person may desire broad territory and a large population, but these are not where his joy lies.”

Original Chinese text

English translation

“To stand at the center of the realm and bring peace to its people is a joy to a noble person, but it is not the foundation of his nature.”

Original Chinese text

English translation

“What belongs to a noble person’s nature is neither increased when it is widely put into practice nor diminished when he lives in hardship, because one’s allotted nature and its bounds are fixed.”

Original Chinese text

English translation

“A noble person’s nature has benevolence, righteousness, ritual, and wisdom rooted in the heart. Their vitality shows in the face, fills the back, and extends through the limbs; the body makes them evident without a word.”

Feedback