Niu Nianxiang
The Master said: “Benevolence has numbers, and righteousness has lengths, shortnesses, smallnesses, and greatnesses. To be indifferent in the heart is to love the benevolence of others; to follow the law and strengthen it is to have resources The benevolent man. The Book of Songs says: 'There is a mulberry tree in Fengshui, how could King Wu not serve? He passed on his plan to his grandson and swallowed his son. King Wu was so kind!' It is the benevolence of several generations. The Guofeng says: 'I am not going to review it now, but the emperor will take care of my descendants.' It is the benevolence of a lifetime. Confucius said: "Benevolence is a heavy tool, and its path is far. Those who raise it cannot overcome it, and those who walk it cannot reach it. Those who take the most are benevolent. Isn't it difficult to be diligent in benevolence? Therefore, if a gentleman judges people by righteousness, it is difficult for him to be a man; If you look at people by their own standards, you will know that they are virtuous. ” The Master said, “There is only one person in the world who is at peace with his heart and who is benevolent. The Great Odes say, ‘Virtue is as light as a feather, and few people can raise it. I have tried to imitate it, but only Zhongshanfu raised it, and no one helped me with love. ’” The Lesser Odes say, ‘High mountains are admired and admired, and beautiful conduct is observed and admired. ’ The Master said, “The love of benevolence in the Book of Poetry is like this: He walks in the direction of the road, but gives up halfway. He forgets his old age, does not know that his years are insufficient, and bows his head day by day, working hard until he dies.” The Master said, “Benevolence has been difficult to achieve for a long time! Everyone loses what he likes; therefore, the mistakes of the benevolent are easily abandoned.” The Master said, “Respect is close to propriety, frugality is close to benevolence, and trustworthiness is close to affection. If one practices this with respect and humility, even if he makes mistakes, they will not be too serious. Respect is less likely to make mistakes, affection is trustworthy, and frugality is easy to tolerate. Are those who make mistakes because of this not rare? The Book of Poetry says, ‘A gentle and respectful person is the foundation of virtue. ’” The Master said, “Benevolence has been difficult to achieve for a long time, but only a gentleman can do it. Therefore, a gentleman does not make himself suffer for what he can do, nor does he make others ashamed for what they cannot do. Therefore, the sage’s way of governing behavior is not to control himself, but to make people feel ashamed and encouraged to act according to their words. He regulates people with etiquette, binds people with trust, decorates their appearance with clothes, and makes friends with them. He wants the people to be united. The Xiaoya says: “Do not be ashamed of others, and do not fear the heaven.” Therefore, when a gentleman wears his clothes, he should decorate his appearance with a gentleman’s appearance; when he has his appearance, he should decorate his words with a gentleman’s words; when he speaks, he should be sincere with a gentleman’s virtue. Therefore, a gentleman is ashamed to wear his clothes without his appearance, to have his appearance without his words, to have his words without his virtue, and to have his virtue without his behavior. Therefore, when a gentleman wears mourning clothes, he has a look of sorrow; when he wears a crown, he has a look of respect; when he wears armor, he has a look of not wanting to be humiliated. The Book of Songs says: “Only the pelican on the beam does not wet its wings; the son of the record does not match his clothes. ’”
