Mencius said, “For things that ought never to be stopped, if one stops, then there is nothing that one will not stop; for those who ought to be treated with great kindness, if one treats them with meagerness, then there is no one that one will not treat with meagerness. He who advances too rapidly will retreat equally fast.”
Note
This passage from the Jin Xin I chapter of the Mencius is a profound summary regarding the “bottom line of self-cultivation,” “the common sense of human relations,” and “proceeding step by step.” Drawing on historical context and Confucian classics, we can understand its underlying thought through the following dimensions:
- Upholding the Bottom Line of Morality: “For Things That Ought Never to Be Stopped, If One Stops, Then There Is Nothing That One Will Not Stop”
“Things that ought never to be stopped” refer to matters of moral principles and fundamental human ethics that must absolutely not be halted or compromised. Mencius points out that if a person easily gives up on fundamental principles, their moral defense line will collapse entirely, and they will easily retreat in all matters. This reflects the Confucian demand for extreme caution in maintaining one’s principles from beginning to end. Once the bottom line is breached, the ruin of one’s life is irretrievable. - Maintaining the Common Sense of Human Relations: “For Those Who Ought to Be Treated with Great Kindness, If One Treats Them with Meagerness, Then There Is No One That One Will Not Treat with Meagerness”
“Those who ought to be treated with great kindness” refers to people with deep blood ties, profound grace, or moral obligations (such as parents, close relatives, or benefactors). Confucianism advocates “love with distinctions,” meaning one should be most generous and kind to their closest kin. If a person can be callous and ungrateful even to those closest to them or those who have shown them the greatest grace, they will undoubtedly be even more ruthless to others. Mencius uses this to reveal the inner logic of human nature: one’s attitude toward their closest kin is the touchstone for testing their true character. - Following Objective Laws: “He Who Advances Too Rapidly Will Retreat Equally Fast”
This is a famous quote by Mencius that is highly dialectical. Whether it is in learning, self-cultivation, or promoting benevolent governance, one must follow the objective law of gradual progress. If one is eager for quick success and exerts excessive force (“advances too rapidly”), it is often due to a lack of a solid foundation and enduring stamina. Once encountering setbacks or when enthusiasm fades, they will quickly give up or even regress (“retreat equally fast”). This thought profoundly critiques the impetuous and hasty trends of the time and leaves behind the precious wisdom of “haste makes waste” and “proceeding steadily and surely” for later generations.
孟子曰：“于不可已而已者，无所不已；于所厚者薄，无所不薄也。其进锐者，其退速。”
Leave a Reply