推己及人 – Chinese philosophy and culture

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tuījǐ-jírén 推己及人

Put Oneself in Another’s Place

以自己的心思推测别人的心思。亦即儒家所说的“恕道”,是实现仁民爱物的重要原则和方法。它首先承认人类在精神上的根本一致,进而以此为原点,弘扬宽和、仁爱精神,设身处地为他人着想,以自身的所思所欲去理解别人:自己不希望的,不要强加给别人;自己所希望的,也要帮助别人实现。

This term means to infer others’ thoughts with one’s own. It is exactly what Confucianism advocates as tolerance toward others, which is an important principle or method of caring for the people and cherishing all things. In the first place, such thinking believes that people basically share a common spirit. On this basis, tolerance and benevolence need to be advanced. One should show consideration for others by putting oneself in their place, and understand others by walking in their shoes. We should never do unto others what we would not want others to do unto ourselves, and whatever we would wish for ourselves, we should also help others to achieve.

引例 Citations:

◎他人有心,予忖度之。(《诗经·小雅·巧言》)

(别人有什么心思,我能揣测得到。)

We can guess how others feel by putting ourselves in their place. (The Book of Songs)

◎强恕而行,求仁莫近焉。(《孟子·尽心上》)

(努力按照将心比心的恕道去做,没有比这更接近仁的了。)

Nothing comes closer to benevolence than trying to empathize with others by standing in their shoes. (Mencius)

◎忠恕违道不远,施诸己而不愿,亦勿施于人。(《礼记·中庸》)

(忠和恕离大道不远,如果施加在自己身上而自己不愿意接受,那么也不要强加给别人。)

Loyalty and forgiveness is very close to the principle of integrity, which means we should never impose upon others what we are not willing to accept ourselves. (The Book of Rites)

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