4.5
Wealth and rank are what every man desires; but if they can only be retained to the detriment of the Way he professes, he must relinquish them.
Poverty and obscurity are what every man detests; but if they can only be avoided to the detriment of the Way he professes, he must accept them.
The gentleman who ever parts company with benevolence does not fulfill that name. Never for a moment does a gentleman quit the way of benevolence. He is never so harried but that he cleaves to this; never so tottering but that he cleaves to this.
子曰：「富與貴是人之所欲也，不以其道得之，不處也；貧與賤是人之所惡也，不以其道得之，不去也。君子去仁，惡乎成名？君子無終食之間違仁，造次必於是，顛沛必於是。」
Notes
Through this passage from the Analects, Confucius acknowledged the legitimacy of desires while emphasizing righteousness as their necessary constraint:
“Wealth and status are desired, but if gained unjustly, reject them. Poverty and lowliness are hated, but if escaped unjustly, endure them.”
A noble person cannot abandon benevolence to maintain their reputation. They uphold benevolence unconditionally — “in moments of urgency and in times of turmoil”.
“If the will be set on virtue, there will be no practice of wickedness.” (Analects 4.4)
At its core, this passage establishes:
- Benevolence as the supreme principle transcending circumstance;
- Righteousness as the fundamental measure governing desire.
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