Yen Yüan asked about humanity. Confucius said, “To master oneself and return to propriety is humanity. If a man (the ruler) can for one day master himself and return to propriety, all under heaven will return to humanity. To practice humanity depends on oneself. Does it depend on others?” Yen Yüan said, “May I ask for the detailed items?” Confucius said, “Do not look at what is contrary to propriety, do not listen to what is contrary to propriety, do not speak what is contrary to propriety, and do not make any movement which is contrary to propriety.” Yen Yüan said, “Although I am not intelligent, may I put your saying into practice.” [Analects 12:1]
The last statement "Although I am not intelligent, may I put your saying into practice" is Confucius challenge to all of us. In the Analect, he stated, as a whole, that practicing the virtue of being a person for others is humanity. This humanity, however, is not influenced by other people. It is a self choice but the effect is for the whole. To be humane, he said, is to know oneself and act according to what is socially and morally correct. To know how to be socially correct is not through the influences of the society but through moral practices. To be humane, he said, that one must not think and do whatever thing is contrary to what is socially and morally correct. It points out that one must not be tempted to the worldly offers.
Confucius challenge does not require for a person to be intelligent to the extent that he/she weighs down every possibility that leads him/her to lose the thought of the teaching. It requires a person to know him/herself and be certain to what his/her goals are. In this way, he/she lives a kind of life that is beneficial to him/her and the persons around, between or outside his life (guided by the moral principles of course). When the goal is set, nothing or no one can lead him/her astray.
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