Gems of Chinese Literature/Mo Ti-Divine Vengeance

←

Gems of Chinese Literature
translated by Herbert Allen Giles

Divine Vengeance by Mo Ti

→

MO TI.

4th and 5th centuries b.c.

[A philosopher of the Sung State, who flourished in the days between Confucius and Mencius, and who propounded a doctrine of “universal love,” in opposition to the “selfish” school of Yang Chu, as the proper foundation for organized society. He showed that under such a system all the calamities which men bring upon one another would altogether disappear, and that the peace and happiness of the Golden Age would be renewed. He was vigorously denounced by Mencius, who exhibited the unpractical side of an otherwise fascinating doctrine. See Liang Ch'i-ch'ao.]

1516715Gems of Chinese Literature — Divine VengeanceHerbert Allen GilesMo Ti

If we do not do that which God wishes us to do, but do that which God wishes us not to do, then God too will not do that which we wish Him to do, but will do that which we wish Him not to do. What are those things which men wish not to suffer?―disease, misfortune, and bewitchment. Now, if we do not do what God wishes us to do, but do that which He does not wish us to do, we shall drag the myriad people of the empire along with us into misfortune and bewitchment.