Sacrifice the individual for the public

xiao4zhu

Sacrifice the individual for the public

积人而成群；群者，所以谋各人公共之利益也。然使群而危险，非群中之人出
万不顾一生之计以保群而群亡，则不得已而有舍己为群之义务焉。
Where men get together, the public takes shape. It exists to serve the common interest of men. When the public is in jeopardy, unless the individuals risk their lives to save it, it is only to meet its doom. From here arises, so undesirable as it is, the obligation of sacrificing the individual self for the public.
  舍己为群之理由有二。一曰：己在群中，群亡则己随之而亡。今舍己以救群，群果不亡，己亦未必亡也。即群不亡，而己先不免于亡，亦较之群己俱亡者为胜。此有己之见存者也。一曰：立于群之地位，以观群中之一人，其价值必小于众人所合之群。牺牲其一而可以济众，何惮不为！一人作如是观，则得舍己为群之一人；人人作如是观，则得舍己为群之众人。此无己之见存者也。见不同，而舍己为群之决心则一。
There are two reasons for such a sacrifice. One reason has it that an individual can’t survive the demise of the public that he belongs to. He that is to sacrifice doesn’t necessarily die but can secure the public. That even he dies is better than the end of both. This is the perception on the part of an individual. The other reason has it that the value of one individual, from the view of the public, weighs, by all means, less than that of the latter. How justifiable it is to sacrifice one for the benefit of all! One that holds this view can sacrifice for all; it is so for every one. This is the perecption, independent of individuality. Those diverse standpoints boil down to but one decision, that is, to sacrifice the individual for the public.

请以实事证之。一曰从军。战争，罪恶也；然或受野蛮人之攻击而为防御之战，则不得已也。例如比之受攻于德，比人奋勇而御敌，虽死无悔，谁曰不宜！二曰革命。革命未有不流血者也；不革命而奴隶于恶政府，则虽生犹死，故不惮流血而为之！例如法国1789年之革命，中国数年来之革命，其事前之鼓吹运动而被拘杀者若干人，是皆基于舍己为群者也。
Allow me to argue upon the facts. The first case is about military service. War, evil as it is, is what we have to wage, unwillingly though, against the invasion of barbarians. Those who, for instance, came under the attack of Germany fought undauntedly against the enemy, regretting anything but death. Who can claim it to be unwise! The second is about revolution. There is no such thing as a revolution without bloodshed. To be enslaved by the villainous government instead of opting for revolution is such as to live but like a walking corpse. How worthwhile it is, therefore, to shed blood for it. Those arrested and killed, so to speak, in the French Revolution of 1789 or the revolutions of China in the past few years, for boosting the campaign are all counted as the martyrs to the public interest.