REV. F. STORES TURNER^ E.A._, ON MEXCIUS. 



261 



justice, the third is tlie ori,i[Tin of propriety, the fourth is tlie 

 origin of the knowledge of nioraHty. Men have these four 

 principles just as they have their four linihs. If only they 

 allow them to develop, it will he like the kindling of fire or the 

 bursting forth of a fountain. Fully developed, these four prin- 

 ciples will suffice for the protection of all mankind ; if they are 

 not allow^ed to de^■elop, a man will not even discharge his duty 

 to his father and mother."* 



Add to this another, but this time a short cliapter. Mencius 

 said, " One's own self contains everything. To examine one's 

 own personality with sincerity is tlie greatest possible joy. 

 Striving to fultil the law of loving one's neighbour as oneself is 

 our nearest approach to the attainment of love.""|* Again, 

 "Honour virtue and delight in justice, so you may be perfectly 

 satisfied." The following quaint illustration is forcible, as it is 

 amusing: Mencius said, " I like fish and I also like bear's paws. 

 If I cannot have both, I let the fish go and take the bear's paws. 

 Life I like, and justice I like ; if I cannot have both, I will give 

 lip life and keep justice. I Avish to live, but there is something 

 Avhich 1 desire more than life, therefore I will not save my life 

 in wrong ways. Death I hate, but there is something 1 hate 

 worse than death, therefore there are occasions when I will not 

 avoid danger."J This reminds us of the Elizabethan song, 



" I could not love thee, dear, so well, 

 Loved I not honour more." 



"All men," said Mencius, "have this mental nature." 



Besides these two notable heretics, Yang and Mih, Mencius 

 •encountered other opponents. The philosopher Kaon disagreed 

 with his belief in the goodness of human nature. Kaou held 

 that man is naturally neither good nor bad, but can with equal 

 ease be turned, or turn himself, in either direction. Human 

 nature, in his view, was like willow-wood, out of which either a 

 <3up or a bowl can be made. Mencius pointed out that " before 

 you can make a cup or bowl you must injure the willovv'-tree. 

 Must you injure and do violence to men in order to make them 

 loving and just ? Your words would lead men to regard love 

 and justice as calamities." '•' Man's nature," said Kaou, "is like 

 water flowing down ; open a channel for it to the east, and it 

 will flow to the east ; open a channel to the west, it will flow to 

 the west. Man's nature is indifferent to good and evil, just as 



* p. 77. 



t p. 327. 



t p. 287. 



