Mencius draws a sharp contrast: diligent people pursuing goodness follow Sage Shun, while those chasing profit resemble bandit Zhi. The core divide between noble and base lies solely in one’s inner motive: virtue or self-interest.
The maxim — “Intentional good deeds deserve no reward; unintentional wrongdoings warrant no punishment” — originates from Strange Tales from Liaozhai Studio: The Examination for the Post of City God (Candidate for the City God). It was Song Tao’s answer during his underworld examination.