Knowing When to Take, Give, or Die

Contents

Text

English translation

Original Chinese text

English translation

Sometimes one may take something, and sometimes one may refrain; to take it when one could refrain damages one’s integrity. Sometimes one may give, and sometimes one may withhold; giving when one could withhold diminishes the virtue of generosity. Sometimes one may die, and sometimes one may live; choosing death when it is unnecessary diminishes the measure of courage.

Feedback