MENCIUS. 371 B. C. THE REAL MAN A REAL MAN is one whose goodness is a part of himself. Of the qualities of the sage, none is greater than that of being a helper of men to right living. He is ashamed of a reputation beyond his desert. Having found the right way within himself, he rests in it, firm and serene, holding intimate converse with it, and reaching to its fountain-head. He obeys the right and waits for the appointed. His words are plain and simple, yet of widest bearing. His aim is selfculture, yet it gives peace to all men. All things are already complete in us. There is no greater delight than to be conscious of right within us. If one strive to treat others as he would be treated by them, he shall not fail to come near the perfect life. Every duty is a charge, but the charge of oneself is the root of all others. The disease of men is to neglect their own fields and go to weeding those of others, to exact much from others and lay light burdens on themselves. Over-readiness of speech comes of not having been reproved. Even those who strive to be perfect stand in need of reproof. A true scholar holds possession of himself, neither by riches nor poverty forced away from his virtue. THE WARNING VOICE WITHIN LET not a man do what his sense of right bids him not to do, nor desire what it forbids him to desire. This is sufficient. The skillful artist will not alter his measures for the sake of a stupid workman. When right ways disappear, one's person must vanish with one's principles. The honor which man confers is not true honor. Those to whom Chaou Mang gave rank, he can degrade again. He whose good name comes from what he is, needs no trappings. The ancients cultivated the nobility of Heaven, leaving that of men to follow in its train. Serving Heaven consists in nourishing the real constitution of our being, anxious neither about death nor life. THE DISCIPLINE OF HEAVEN WHEN Heaven is about to confer a great office on any man, it first disciplines his mind with suffering, and his bones and sinews with toil. It exposes him to want and subjects him to extreme poverty. It confounds his undertakings. By all these methods it stimulates his mind, hardens him, an supplies his incompetencies. To CONCERNING DESIRES O nourish the heart there is nothing better than to make the desires few. Here is a man whose desires are few; in some things he may not be able to keep his heart, but they will be few. Here is a man whose desires are many; in some things he may be able to keep his heart, but they will be few. THE CHILD-HEART THE great man is he who does not lose his child-heart. He does not think beforehand that his words shall be sincere, nor that his acts shall be resolute; he simply abides in the right. The right path (Tao) is near, yet men seek it afar off. The labor of duty is easy, yet men seek it in what is difficult. The way is wide; it is not hard to know. Go home and seek it, and you shall not lack teachers. EQUANIMITY IF one treat me unreasonably, I will say: "I must have been wanting in kindness or propriety. How else should this have happened?" Then I will mend my ways. If the other continue perverse, I must have self-respect enough to say, "I must have failed to do my best." If all is vain, I say, "Why vex myself about a wild beast?" Thus the wise has lifelong vigilance, but not one morning's serious trouble. THE END OF WISDOM IS TO SEEK THE THE virtues are not poured into us, they are natural: seek, and you will find them; neglect, and you will lose them. To every faculty and |