Fukuzawa Yukichi's Persuasion Learning, Part II, Equality (1)

The first article says at the beginning: all men are born equal and free regardless of differences. Now I want to start here. People are born, not by manpower. The reason why people should respect and love each other, do their duty and not interfere with each other is because we, as the same kind, enjoy a sky and are a creation between heaven and earth. Just like brothers and sisters in a family live in harmony because they are in the same family and enjoy one father and one mother.

Therefore, there is no doubt that the relationship between people is equal. However, the equality mentioned here does not refer to the equality in external conditions, but to the moral equality in rights. When we talk about external conditions, we will find that there is a big gap between people: rich and poor, strong and weak, wise and foolish. Celebrities in China live in palaces, dress beautifully and eat well, and workers live in poor alleys. People with great wisdom can be officials, do business and change the world. People without wisdom can only do small businesses all their lives, from strong sumo wrestlers to delicate princesses. But from the perspective of rights and morality, it is completely equal, and there is no difference between light and heavy. The so-called correct morality means respecting everyone's life, protecting everyone's property and cherishing everyone's reputation. Since God has given people life, body and mind to practice this truth, in any case, it should not be damaged by manpower.

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