天志(中)

Master Mozi said: 'Righteousness does not issue from the foolish and lowly, but must issue from the noble and wise.' How do we know that righteousness does not issue from the foolish and lowly but must issue from the noble and wise? Because righteousness is good government. Then who is noble? Who is wise? Heaven is noble, Heaven is wise -- that is all. Therefore righteousness truly issues from Heaven.

Master Mozi said: 'Heaven's intentions: it does not desire great states to attack small states, great families to disrupt small families, the strong to oppress the few, the cunning to plot against the foolish, or the noble to be arrogant toward the humble -- these are what Heaven does not desire. This is not all: it desires that those with strength assist one another, those with the Way teach one another, and those with wealth share with one another. It further desires that those above diligently attend to governance, and those below diligently engage in their work.'

Therefore Master Mozi's possession of Heaven's will serves above to measure the kings, dukes, and great men of the realm in their governance, and below to measure the myriad people of the realm in their scholarship and discourse. Observe their conduct: what conforms to Heaven's will is called good conduct; what opposes Heaven's will is called bad conduct. Observe their discourse: what conforms to Heaven's will is called good discourse; what opposes Heaven's will is called bad discourse. Observe their governance: what conforms to Heaven's will is called good governance; what opposes Heaven's will is called bad governance.