The Master said:
“The world and the state may be governed with fairness;
titles and emoluments may be renounced;
even bare blades may be trodden upon –
yet the Doctrine of the Mean is what cannot be practiced!”
子曰：「天下國家可均也，爵祿可辭也，白刃可蹈也，中庸不可能也。」
Note
This chapter from the Doctrine of the Mean uses a powerful rhetorical progression to emphasize that practicing the Doctrine of the Mean is far more difficult than even the most heroic acts commonly admired. Confucius does not deny the value of governing justly, renouncing honors, or facing death bravely; rather, he points out that these, though challenging, are feats of “momentary courage” or “singular virtue.” In contrast, the Mean demands sustained, conscious balance in everyday life – its difficulty lies not in intensity, but in constancy.
“Governing the world and state with fairness” refers to political equity (e.g., land or tax distribution), achievable through institutional design; “renouncing titles and emoluments” reflects moral integrity – a decisive ethical choice; “treading on bare blades” exemplifies momentary bravery in crisis. Yet the Mean is not a one-time act; it is a continuous, all-encompassing moral practice woven into every emotion, word, action, governance, and self-cultivation. It requires maintaining propriety when unseen, emotional moderation amid turmoil, and inner stillness in the face of temptation – disciplines far more demanding than external heroism.
Zhu Xi, in his Commentary on the Doctrine of the Mean, notes:
“It is not that people cannot do it, but that they are unwilling… For the Mean involves no extraordinary deeds – only ordinary principles, which people therefore neglect.”
He argues that the perceived “impossibility” of the Mean stems not from inability, but from disdain for its simplicity. The real obstacle is attitude: people chase lofty ideals yet refuse to cultivate virtue in “eating, dressing, dealing with affairs, and interacting with others.”
Thus, Confucius’ lament is not a denial of human potential, but a wake-up call: the highest Way is hidden in the most ordinary perseverance. The “impossibility” of the Mean lies precisely in the fact that it is possible – but neglected. This reveals Confucianism’s profound insight into human complacency and moral laxity.
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