Speaking of Confucius, if you want to understand his words and deeds, you must read the Analects. The fifty-eight chapters of the book talk about "ren" and use one hundred and five characters for "ren", which shows the importance of the concept of "ren" in Confucianism. So, why did Confucius mention a simple "ren" so frequently, we must first understand the seemingly simple historical background behind a "ren" word.
In ancient times, the dignity and inferiority, the nobility, the relatives, and the thickness and thinness were very important, so the Zhou metric system was used to make music, and the written code was used to regulate the words and deeds of the people and divide the relationship. For example: "Tianzi Hall is nine feet high, the princes are seven feet high, the doctor is five feet, and the scholar is three feet" The social identity is different, and the number of high and low feet of the hall is different. It can be said that "li" is the "eight glories and eight shames" of the early Zhou Dynasty for hundreds of years. By the end of the Zhou Dynasty, the era of Confucius, the great social and political turmoil, the old etiquette of the Western Zhou Dynasty, the old system has existed in name only, and it has become a false name. Even the doctor dared to use the liturgy of the Son of Heaven indiscriminately, making the king not a king, and the subject not a subject. Confucius was a morally superior, conservative and nostalgic boy. When he encountered the social crisis of "collapse and happiness", he resolutely stood up and traveled around the world to promote his political ideals, hoping to maintain the old system of the King of Zhou.
But the empty mouth and white teeth told the princes, you must keep the courtesy, you must honor it. No princes could listen, so Confucius "borrowed benevolence to push the gift." A student asked Confucius what "benevolence" was, and Confucius said it was "lover". And people who "love others" will fulfill their social obligations (know etiquette and observe etiquette). He believes that "benevolence" is the human heart, in other words, "unkindness" means that there is no "human heart", and there is no difference between it and animals. Therefore, in modern language, Confucius used the tight curse of "benevolence" to morally kidnap the princes who "do not administer benevolence" and those who "do not practice benevolence".
Whether you want to be a man or a beast, choose for yourself. I have to say that Confucius was not a nerd, but a "smart man" who knew people's hearts well!
Now we know that Confucius repeatedly said that "benevolence" is "lover". Some people will ask, so how to love people? Is it to see everyone hug him and kiss him? It is believed that the feudal Zhou Dynasty could not be so open. The specific method of "loving people" can be summarized into two words: "loyalty" and "forgiveness". "Loyalty" is said in one sentence: "Do not do to others what you want"; "forgiveness" says in one sentence, "Do not do to others what you do not want". The practice of loyalty and forgiveness together is the "way of benevolence", that is, the method of practicing "benevolence". Later Confucians also called it the "Way of The Way of The Way of The Ordinary" (using one's own feelings as a yardstick to measure the standard of regulating one's own behavior)
So, if you encounter a garbage man who offends and makes you angry, don't worry. Because they are "unkind", they are just a beast in human skin. Smile and walk away graciously. Take a breath of fresh air, life is still good!