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Academy Resources Glossary of Philosophical Terms Timeline of Philosophy A Timeline of American Philosophy Diagram: Development of Philosophic Thought Diagram: Divisions of Philosophy The Philosophy Resource Center The Religion Resource Center Books about Chinese Philosophy in The Radical Academy Bookstore Books about Indian Philosophy in The Radical Academy Bookstore Books about Philosophy in The Radical Academy Bookstore Books about Religion in The Radical Academy Bookstore Click Here for New & Used College Textbooks at Discount Prices Click Here for College Education Information & Study Resources Shop Amazon Stores in the Radical Academy Bookstore Magazine Outlet Music Store Classical Music Store Video Store DVD Store Computer Store Camera & Photo Store Computer/Video Games Software Store Musical Instruments Outlet Store Cellular Phones Toys & Games Tools & Hardware Automotive Store Outdoor Living Consumer Electronics Home & Garden Kitchen & Housewares Baby Superstore Apparel & Accessories Gourmet Food Grocery Store Sporting Goods Jewelry & Watches Health & Personal Care Beauty Store		On Benevolence by Mencius [Meng Tzu]   Benevolence brings glory to an individual and its opposite brings disgrace. For people of the present day to hate disgrace and yet live complacently doing what is not benevolent, is like hating moisture and yet living in low country. If a man hates disgrace, the best course for him to pursue is to esteem virtue and honor virtuous scholars, giving the worthiest among them places of dignity, and the able offices of trust. People take advantage of the time, when throughout the land there are leisure and rest, to abandon themselves to pleasure and indolent indifference; they, in fact, seek for calamities for themselves. Calamity and happiness in all cases are men's own seeking. This is illustrated by what is said in The Book of Poetry: Be always studious to be in harmony with the ordinances of God, So you will certainly get for yourself much happiness; and by the passages of the Tai Chia: "When Heaven sends down calamities, it is still possible to escape from them; when we occasion the calamities ourselves, it is not possible any longer to live." *** If a ruler give honor to men of talents and virtue and employ the able, so that the offices shall all be filled by the individuals of distinction and mark -- then all the scholars of the land will be pleased.... All men have a mind which cannot bear to see the suffering of others. The ancient kings had this commiserating mind, and they, as a matter of course, had likewise a commiserating government. When with a commiserating mind was practiced a commiserating government, the government of the land was as easy a matter as the making anything go round in the palm. When I say that all men have a mind which cannot bear to see the suffering of others, my meaning may be illustrated thus: even nowadays, if men suddenly see a child about to fall into a well, they will without exception experience a feeling of alarm and distress. They will feel so, not as a ground on which they may seek the praise of their neighbors and friends, nor from a dislike to the reputation of having been unmoved by such a thing. From this case we may perceive that the feeling of commiseration is essential to man, that the feeling of shame and dislike is essential to man, that the feeling of modesty and complacence is essential to man. *** The feeling of commiseration is the principle of benevolence. The feeling of shame and dislike is the principle of righteousness. The feeling of modesty and complacence is the principle of propriety. The feeling of approving and disapproving is the principle of knowledge. Men have these four principles just as they have their four limbs. When men, having these four principles, yet say of themselves that they cannot develop them, they play the thief with themselves and he who says of his neighbor that he cannot develop them, plays the thief with his neighbor. Since all men have these four principles in themselves, let them know to give them all their development and completion, and the issue will be like that of fire which has begun to burn, or that of a spring which has begun to find vent. Let them have their complete development and they will suffice to love and protect all within the four seas. The choice of a profession, therefore, is a thing in which great caution is required. Confucius said, "It is virtuous manners which constitute the excellence of a neighborhood. If a man is selecting a residence, does not fix on one where such prevail, how can he be wise?" Now, benevolence is the most honorable dignity conferred by heaven, and the quiet home in which man should dwell. Since no one can hinder us from being so, if yet we are not benevolent, we are unwise. From the want of benevolence and the want of wisdom will ensue the entire absence of propriety and righteousness.   Excerpted from Four Books. At Amazon Books Mencius Mencius (Penguin Classics) The Works of Mencius Enrich Your Life With a Philosophy Book... Enrich Your Life With a Philosophy Magazine... Academy Showcase Specials   Introduction & Directory Eastern Philosophy Index
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