One who loves children is compassionate toward them; one who values life cherishes himself; one who esteems achievements is careful with affairs.
A compassionate mother seeks only blessings for her young child. Seeking blessings, she removes harms for him; removing harms, her deliberations become thorough; thorough deliberations grasp inherent principles; grasping principles guarantees success; guaranteed success makes her actions unhesitant; unhesitation is called courage.
Sages treat all worldly affairs exactly as compassionate mothers plan for their young children. Thus they perceive the sure path of action; perceiving this path brings clarity, and their undertakings are unhesitant. Unhesitation is courage.
Courage arises from compassion. Hence the saying: “Compassion therefore brings courage.”
Note
This passage defines a political‑ethical virtue: true courage stems from compassionate care and rational deliberation, not blind boldness; rulers who cherish the people act decisively and effectively.
Late Warring‑States Legalist philosopher. This passage is excerpted from Explaining Laozi (Jie Lao), his commentary on the Dao De Jing. He re‑interprets Daoist compassion as a rational political virtue rather than pure emotional kindness.
Compassion‑Courage Causal Logic
Han Fei’s core reasoning: compassion = careful concern → thorough planning → rational certainty → steady courage. True courage is not recklessness, but well‑founded resolve.
Mother‑Child Analogy
The compassionate mother is used as a moral‑political model for rulers: care for the people leads to prudent, decisive governance.
Dao‑Legalist Integration
Daoist compassion becomes a practical statecraft principle: benevolent concern enables wise and firm rule.
愛子者慈於子，重生者慈於身，貴功者慈於事。慈母之於弱子也，務致其福，務致其福則事除其禍，事除其禍則思慮熟，思慮熟則得事理，得事理則必成功，必成功則其行之也不疑，不疑之謂勇。聖人之於萬事也，盡如慈母之為弱子慮也，故見必行之道，見必行之道則明，其從事亦不疑，不疑之謂勇。不疑生於慈，故曰：「慈故能勇。」
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