| | Benevolence, righteousness, sainthood, and wisdom are comparable to Heaven and Earth. If Heaven does not cover all things, what will the people rely on or hope for? If Earth does not bear them, where can the people dwell in peace and travel safely? If a sage does not govern, how can the people be guided or led properly? Therefore, Heaven covers them, Earth bears them, and sages govern them. The body of a sage is like the sun. The sun, though round as a measuring rod, fills Heaven and Earth with light. The sage's body may be small, yet the illumination he provides reaches far. When a sage corrects himself, order is achieved in all directions. If the main thread of a net is straight, then all the meshes will open. If virtue and conduct are upright, then all things will be rectified. Rectitude means to correct people. If one's own person is not upright, others will not follow. Therefore, without speaking there is trust, without anger there is authority, and without giving there is benevolence. When such qualities exist in the heart and others are thus rectified, it is called supreme governance. Now people say: Heaven has become chaotic. It is difficult to do good, but this is not true. One who is hungry finds food easy to obtain; one who is cold finds clothing easy to acquire. This means that after disorder, virtue becomes easier to practice.
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