The father is kind to his children. The children are filial to their parents. Elder brothers cherish younger brothers, who in tum respect their elder brothers. Even if such conduct reaches the acme of perfection, it is no more than what ought to be done; it is not a matter of gratitude.
If a father congratulates himself on being kind to his children, and if the children want to measure their rewards for his kindness, then family members become strangers and kinship ties are reduced to the level of market transactions.
父慈子孝，兄友弟恭，纵作到极处俱是合当如此，著不得一毫感激的念头。如施者任德，受者怀恩，便是路人，便成市道矣。
Notes
True kinship transcends reciprocity. Virtue performed for its own sake loses purity when contaminated by ledger-keeping.
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