It Rises from Feeling, Yet Stops at What Is Proper

answered by Great Preface to the Shijing

기원전~기원후 초 편찬(모시 서문)

🎬 TODAY'S FILM — IT ASKS THIS

In the Mood for Love (2000)

dir. Wong Kar-wai · Hong Kong

Two are drawn to each other, yet swallow their feelings before a line that must not be crossed. Does that unspoken heart remain only as unfinished regret, or, precisely because it was not crossed, remain more beautiful for longer?

THE QUESTION THE FILM ASKS

For two who let their feeling for each other pass unspoken to the end, what does that restraint leave?

THE CLASSIC'S ANSWER · ORIGINAL

發乎情，止乎禮

發乎情，止乎禮義

📜 THE CLASSIC'S ANSWER

It springs from feeling, yet halts at what is right.

💡 TL;DR

An old commentary on the Book of Songs said, "It rises from feeling, yet stops at what is proper." Emotion wells up naturally, but where one halts it forms a person's character.

📝The Classic Answers

An old commentary on the Book of Songs said, "It rises from feeling, yet stops at what is proper." Emotion wells up naturally, but where one halts it forms a person's character. A heart not crossed over is not unfinished but a line drawn to protect each other. I refuse to see restrained love only as a failed, unfulfilled thing. Because it was not crossed, it was not spoiled; because it was not spoken, some hearts glow more softly, and longer.

— ONGO · Curator

🌱Apply It Today

If restraint left you with regret, honor anew that the line you did not cross was drawn to protect each other.

📖 Classic Source: Great Preface to the Shijing.
The film is honored as an equal questioner; its plot is rendered only as a universal dilemma. The classic source is an ancient text (Public Domain), and the reflection is 100% original ONGO content.