Nature and Destiny

English translation

Mencius said, “The mouth’s relation to flavors, the eyes’ to beauty, the ears’ to sounds, the nose’s to scents, and the limbs’ to comfort belong to human nature, yet their fulfillment depends on circumstances of destiny; a noble person does not call them nature alone. Benevolence between parent and child, righteousness between ruler and minister, ritual between host and guest, wisdom in relation to the worthy, and the sage’s relation to the Way of Heaven are matters of destiny, yet they have roots in human nature; a noble person does not call them destiny alone.”