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PT. II. SECT. IV.
THE WRITINGS OF KWANG-SZE.
291
BOOK XI.
Part II. SECTION IV. Zâi Yû, or ‘Letting Be, and Exercising For
bearance?.' 1. I have heard of letting the world be, and exercising forbearance; I have not heard of governing the world. Letting be is from the fear that men, (when interfered with), will carry their nature beyond its normal condition; exercising forbearance is from the fear that men, (when not so dealt with), will alter the characteristics of their nature. When all men do not carry their nature beyond its normal condition, nor alter its characteristics, the good government of the world is secured.
Formerly, Yâo's government of the world made men look joyful ; but when they have this joy in their nature, there is a want of its (proper) placidity. The government of the world by Kieh, (on the contrary), made men look distressed; but when their nature shows the symptoms of distress, there is a want of its (proper) contentment. The want of placidity and the want of contentment are contrary to the character (of the nature); and where this obtains, it is impossible that any man or state should anywhere abide long. Are men exceedingly joyful ?—the Yang or element of expansion in them is too much developed. Are they exceedingly
1 See pp. 142, 143.
U 2
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