弘明集 1.23

1.23

Mouzi said: "Gongshu could provide men with axes and marking cords, but could not make them skillful. The Sages could confer the Dao upon men, but could not make them step forward and practice it. Gaoyao could penalize thieves, but could not make covetous men into Boyi and Shuqi. The five punishments could execute the villainous, but could not make evil sons into Zeng Shen and Min Ziqian. Yao could not transform Danzhu; the Duke of Zhou could not instruct Guan and Cai. Was it that the Tang's teachings were not illustrious, or that the Zhou's Dao was not complete? Yet there was nothing to be done about wicked men. By analogy, when a person of the world is versed in the seven classics yet bewildered by wealth and sex, can one call the Six Arts depraved? Although the River God is divine, he does not drown people on dry land; although the whirlwind is swift, it cannot stir dust from still waters. One should only worry that men cannot practice it; how could one say that the Buddhist Dao has wickedness?"