问「志士仁人」章。
先生曰：「只为世上人都把生身命子看得太重，不问当死不当死，定要宛转委曲保全，以此把天理却丢去了。忍心害理，何者不为？若违了天理，便与禽兽无异；便偷生在世上百千年，也不过做了千百年的禽兽。学者要于此等处看得明白。比干、龙逢[1]，只为也看得分明，所以能成就得他的仁。」
有人问「志士仁人」一章。
先生说：「只因为世上的人都把身家性命看得太重，不问当死不当死，定要委曲保全，因此把天理丢掉了。忍心害理，还有什么事做不出来？若违背了天理，便与禽兽无异；便偷生在世上百千年，也不过做了千百年的禽兽。学者要在这些地方看得明白。比干、龙逢，只因为也看得分明，所以能成就他们的仁。」
Someone asked about the chapter on the resolute and the humane.
The Master said: 'Only because the world prizes its life too highly, asking not whether death is due, twisting to preserve itself, is heavenly principle thrown away. With heart steeled against principle, what would it not do? Off the principle, a man differs nothing from beast: steal a hundred lives of years, and he has been beast a hundred years. Learners must see this clearly. Bi Gan and Long Feng saw it clearly — hence they could perfect their humaneness.'
- 比干，殷人，因谏纣而死；龙逢，即关龙逢，夏人，因谏桀而死：皆古之忠臣。