On Will
志士仁人,无求生以害仁,有杀身以成仁。
"People of purpose and humanity do not seek life at the cost of harming humanity; they may sacrifice life in order to complete humanity."
Chinese Original
志士仁人,无求生以害仁,有杀身以成仁。
English Rendering
People of purpose and humanity do not seek life at the cost of harming humanity; they may sacrifice life in order to complete humanity.
Chinese Translation
孔子说 :“ 志士仁人,没有贪生怕 ”: 死而损害仁德的,只有牺牲自己而成全仁德。”
Modern Meaning
In "志士仁人,无求生以害仁,有杀身以成仁," Confucius focuses on people of purpose and humanity do not seek life at the cost of harming humanity. The exact principle is that purpose must be strong enough to survive discomfort, delay, and pressure. The tension is not generic will and resolve; it is the specific problem that people confuse a wish with a commitment and abandon it when status, comfort, or difficulty changes, which still appears in working on a long responsibility that has no immediate reward.
How to Apply Today
Use this teaching today in working on a long responsibility that has no immediate reward. Because this line says "People of purpose and humanity do not seek life at the cost of harming humanity," name the responsibility, then choose the next visible step instead of waiting for motivation, so the lesson becomes visible in one behavior.
Reflection Question
For "志士仁人,无求生以害仁,有杀身以成仁" (row 6, 立志篇 / On Will), Which commitment am I calling important while treating it as optional?
Action Step
Complete one visible step on a long-term responsibility before taking on a new task, specifically in response to this demand: "People of purpose and humanity do not seek life at the cost of harming humanity."
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