Life is what I desire, and righteousness is also what I desire. If I cannot have both, I will forsake life and choose righteousness.

This is the core argument in Mencius' chapter 'Fish I Desire.' Mencius first uses the metaphor of fish and bear's paws: 'Fish is what I desire, bear's paws are also what I desire; if I cannot have both, I will forsake fish and choose bear's paws.' He then extends this to the choice between life and righteousness, expounding the value system where righteousness outweighs life. The context is Mencius' debate with Gao Zi about human nature being inherently good or evil. Through this discourse, Mencius argues for the inherent goodness of human nature, asserting that all people possess the heart of shame and the heart of right and wrong.

This statement profoundly expounds the core Confucian concept of distinguishing righteousness from profit. Mencius believes that although life is humanity's most fundamental desire, there exists something more valuable than life itself - righteousness. When life and righteousness come into conflict, a moral person should choose righteousness without hesitation, even at the cost of their life. Here, 'righteousness' encompasses not only moral norms but also higher values such as social responsibility, national justice, and personal dignity.

This thought originated from Mencius' inheritance and development of Confucius' concept of 'achieving benevolence through sacrificing life.' According to tradition, while teaching at the Jixia Academy in Qi State, Mencius faced a situation where 'the words of Yang Zhu and Mozi filled the world' and deeply felt the severity of moral decay. When a disciple asked about the relationship between life and righteousness, Mencius used the daily choice of food as a metaphor, first comparing the choice between fish and bear's paws, then extending it to the choice between life and righteousness. Through this method of progressing from the simple to the profound, he explained the supreme nature of moral values to his disciples. This discourse was later compiled by his disciples into the important chapter in 'Mencius - Gao Zi (Upper).'

The thought of 'sacrificing life for righteousness' has had profound influence on Chinese history. From Su Wu's nineteen years of herding sheep without yielding, to Wen Tianxiang's 'Since ancient times, who has not faced death? Let my loyal heart illuminate the annals of history'; from Yue Fei's 'loyal service to the country' to Lin Zexu's 'If it benefits the country, I would face life and death; how could I avoid it for personal fortune or misfortune,' this thought has inspired countless Chinese sons and daughters to dedicate themselves to national righteousness. In modern history, facing foreign invasion, this spirit became an important spiritual force for national salvation. The Six Gentlemen of the Hundred Days' Reform, the seventy-two martyrs of Huanghuagang, and the soldiers who sacrificed themselves in the Anti-Japanese War all embodied this spirit. After the founding of New China, this thought was given new contemporary meaning and became an important component of patriotic education.

To practice the spirit of 'sacrificing life for righteousness' in daily life, we can start from these aspects: First, establish correct values and understand that life has higher spiritual pursuits beyond material ones. Second, cultivate moral judgment and learn to distinguish right from wrong in complex situations. Third, start with small things - adhere to principles in daily work and life, not losing righteousness for small gains. Fourth, enhance social responsibility and actively participate in public welfare to contribute to social progress. Fifth, cultivate a sense of historical mission and integrate personal ideals with the destiny of the nation. It should be noted that 'sacrificing life for righteousness' in modern society does not mean blind sacrifice but value choices based on rational judgment.