Conversation

A student asked the Master, “When the State becomes disordered as it is now, how can we practice Benevolence (仁) and Righteousness (义)?” The Master replied: “Remember the story of Junshi [Sima Guang]- when his friend fell into the great water pot and nearly drowned, what did he do while the other boys merely panicked? He smashed the vessel and saved his friend. The junzi knows when it is the right time to put down his scrolls and pick up a stone, and not a moment before.”