鐔津文集 6.26

6.26

Evil that has physical form is small; evil that has no physical form is great. Good that has a name is secondary; good that has no name is supreme. Good that has a name is being benevolent only after instruction; good that has no name is being benevolent without instruction. Evil that has form is the killing of people; evil without form is the slandering of people. The evil of slandering people resides in their hearts; the evil of killing people resides in their actions. An action can be dealt with, but a heart cannot be seen. What relies on instruction is the emotions; what does not rely on instruction is human nature. Emotions can shift, but nature cannot change. Tease a neighbor's child: enticing him with fine words can make him glad, while provoking him with harsh words can make him angry. Yet when he runs to his parents, neither fine nor harsh words can make him feel closer or more distant. Robber Zhi feasted on human flesh, and everyone could hate him; Shaozheng Mao was prominent at court, and the multitude could not discern him. For this reason, when the gentleman approves of the good, he must examine whether their reputations are alike; when he detests evil, he must discern whether their hidden dispositions differ. Rewards and punishments are that by which good and evil are rectified. If one's intelligence cannot fully penetrate their good and evil, one is not qualified to deliberate on rewards and punishments. Therefore, scrutinizing slander lies in subtlety; executing slanderers lies in resoluteness; corporal punishment and execution should be deliberated; those whose nature is good should be appointed; those whose emotions are good should be employed. If scrutinizing slander is not subtle, one cannot observe where their hearts tend; if executing slanderers is not resolute, one cannot halt their great evil; if corporal punishment and execution are not deliberated, one cannot investigate their truth. If those whose nature is good are appointed, then safety and danger will not falter; if those whose emotions are good are employed, then authority and blessings will not be monopolized. When approving the good attains its proper fitness, then great worthies will exhaust their virtue and lesser worthies will exhaust their talents. When detesting evil finds its proper place, then slanderers will reform their hearts and murderers will submit to their punishment. Whoever rectifies good and evil thus, how could the way of governance fail to reach the utmost?