鐔津文集 7.12

7.12

有客問曰。君子之學有所欲乎。曰有。而客笑曰。君子亦有欲邪。曰然。君子學欲至而道欲正。正則於事無繆。至則於心無惑。是故君子安安終其身而無競。小人則不爾。小人學欲利而道欲售。售則不能無繆於事。利則不能無惑於心。是故小人忽忽終其身而自役。此堯舜與人同。而聖賢所以與人異者也。客拜而去。

A guest asked: 'Does the learning of the gentleman involve desire?' I said: 'It does.' The guest laughed and said: 'Does a gentleman also have desires?' I said: 'Yes. In the gentleman's learning, he desires to attain the utmost; in his Way, he desires to be upright. When upright, he makes no errors in affairs; when he attains the utmost, he has no doubts in his mind. For this reason, the gentleman is tranquil and content to the end of his days without contention. The petty person is not like this. In the petty person's learning, he desires profit; in his Way, he desires sale. When seeking sale, he cannot be without error in affairs; when seeking profit, he cannot be without doubt in his mind. For this reason, the petty person is frantic and agitated to the end of his days, enslaving himself. This is where Yao and Shun were identical to other men, and where sages and worthies differed from other men.' The guest bowed and departed.