Mencius said: “When something may be taken or left, taking it harms one’s integrity. When something may be given or withheld, giving it harms true benevolence. When one may die or live, choosing death harms genuine courage.”
4.13 The Master said, “If it is really possible to govern countries by ritual and yielding, there is no more to be said. But if it is not really possible, of what use is ritual?”