Mencius - Book 6, Part 1, Chapter 6A

The disciple Kung-tû said, 'The philosopher Kâo says, "Man's nature is neither good nor bad."

'Some say, "Man's nature may be made to practice good, and it may be made to practice evil, and accordingly, under Wan and Wû, the people loved what was good, while under Yû and Lî, they loved what was cruel."

'Some say, "The nature of some is good, and the nature of others is bad. Hence it was that under such a sovereign as Yâo there yet appeared Hsiang; that with such a father as Kû-sâu there yet appeared Shun; and that with Châu for their sovereign, and the son of their elder brother besides, there were found Ch'î, the viscount of Wei, and the prince Pî-Kan.

'And now you say, "The nature is good." Then are all those wrong?'

~ James Legge translation via nothingistic.org ~

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