Ren (Chinese: 仁, meaning "co-humanity" or "humaneness") is a Confucian virtue meaning the good quality of a virtuous human when reaching for higher ideals or when being altruistic. Ren is exemplified by functional, instinctual, parental feelings and intentions of encouragement and protection for their children. It is considered the outward expression of Confucian ideals.
Yan Hui, one of the Four Sages, once asked his master to describe the rules of ren. Confucius replied, "One should see nothing improper, hear nothing improper, say nothing improper, do nothing improper."[1] Confucius also defined ren in the following way: "wishing to be established himself, seeks also to establish others; wishing to be enlarged himself, he seeks also to enlarge others."[2] Confucius also said, “Is goodness out of reach? As soon as I long for goodness, goodness is at hand.” [3]Ren is close to man and never leaves him.[4]
^Confucius (2014). Nylan, Michael (ed.). The analects: the Simon Leys translation, interpretations. Translated by Leys, Simon. New York, NY: W. W. Norton. pp. Chapter 7, Line 7.30. ISBN978-0-393-91195-4.
^Do-Dinh, Pierre (1969). Confucius and Chinese Humanism. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. p. 107.
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