天志(上)

Master Mozi said: 'The scholars and gentlemen of the realm understand small things but not great things.' How do we know this? We know it from how they conduct themselves in a household. If a person offends the head of his household, he can still flee to a neighbor's house for refuge; yet his relatives, brothers, and acquaintances all warn one another, saying: 'You must be on guard! You must be careful!'

Then what does Heaven desire and what does it hate? Heaven desires righteousness and hates unrighteousness. If I then lead the people of the realm to devote themselves to righteousness, I am doing what Heaven desires. If I do what Heaven desires, Heaven will also do what I desire.

Conforming to Heaven's will is righteous government; opposing Heaven's will is forceful government. What does righteous government entail? Master Mozi said: 'Those in great states do not attack small states; those in great families do not plunder small families; the strong do not oppress the weak; the noble are not arrogant toward the humble; the cunning do not deceive the foolish. This necessarily benefits Heaven above, benefits the spirits in the middle, and benefits the people below. Benefiting all three with no harm to any -- therefore all the finest names in the realm are conferred upon such a ruler, and he is called a sage king.'

Master Mozi said: 'I have Heaven's will, just as the wheelwright has his compass and the carpenter has his square. The wheelwright and carpenter grasp their compass and square to measure all the circles and squares in the realm, saying: what accords with them is right; what does not accord with them is wrong. Now the writings of the realm's scholars and gentlemen are beyond counting, their speeches beyond reckoning; they persuade feudal lords above and scholars below, yet on the matter of benevolence and righteousness they diverge enormously. How do I know this? I say: I have obtained the realm's clear standard to measure them by.'