Mencius – Chapter 13.25

Mencius said, “Those who rise at the crowing of the rooster and diligently strive to do good are the followers of Shun. Those who rise at the crowing of the rooster and diligently strive for profit are the followers of Zhi. If one wishes to know the distinction between Shun and Zhi, there is no other reason; it lies solely in the difference between profit and goodness.”

Note

This passage from the Jin Xin I chapter of the Mencius is one of the most classic and concise discourses on Mencius’ “debate between righteousness and profit.” Drawing on traditional commentaries and historical context, we can understand its underlying thought through the following dimensions:

• The Debate Between Righteousness and Profit: The Core Value Divide in Confucianism
  Mencius presents here the most iconic proposition in Confucian thought – the “debate between righteousness and profit.” In Mencius’ view, the fundamental differences among people lie not in their social status, wealth, or power, but in whether their ultimate inner pursuit is “goodness (righteousness)” or “profit.” By establishing “pursuing goodness” and “pursuing profit” as the sole criteria for judging character, he completely overturned the secular values guided by utilitarianism and established the spiritual coordinates of Confucian moral supremacy.
• An Extreme Contrast: The “Slight Difference in a Single Thought” Between a Sage King and a Notorious Bandit
  Mencius boldly compared the ancient sage king Shun with Zhi, a notorious bandit in ancient times. Although these two figures had a world of difference in worldly achievements, in Mencius’ eyes, their most fundamental distinction lay merely in their underlying motives. This stark contrast aims to warn the world: sages and bandits are not two species separated by an unbridgeable gap; they often differ by just a single thought. The crossroads of life lie in what drives your heart first when you wake up each morning: is it righteousness or selfish desire?
• The Equivalence of Attitude and the Divergence of Direction: The Theory of Cultivation Behind “Diligence”
  It is worth noting that when describing these two types of people, Mencius used the exact same phrase: “rise at the crowing of the rooster and diligently strive.” This implies that whether one pursues goodness or profit, both require immense diligence, focus, and perseverance. Mencius uses this to point out that effort itself is neutral; what matters is the direction of that effort. If the direction is wrong (pursuing profit), the harder one works, the further one strays from the Great Way, and the greater the harm may be. Only by directing this “diligent” effort toward “doing good” can one achieve a noble character. This also points out the starting point for self-cultivation for later generations: correcting one’s underlying motives is far more important than mere hard work.

孟子曰：“鸡鸣而起，孳孳为善者，舜之徒也。鸡鸣而起，孳孳为利者，跖之徒也。欲知舜与跖之分，无他，利与善之间也。”