This passage comes from The Analects, Book 17 (Yang Huo), Chapter 8: “The Master said, ‘You (Zi Lu, a disciple of Confucius), have you heard of the six virtues and their six attendant faults?’ He replied, ‘I have not.’ ‘Sit down, and I will tell you. To love Ren (Benevolence) without loving learning leads to the fault of foolishness; to love Zhi (Wisdom) without loving learning leads to the fault of instability; to love Xin (Trustworthiness) without loving learning leads to the fault of being harmed; to love uprightness without loving learning leads to the fault of being harsh; to love courage without loving learning leads to the fault of causing chaos; to love firmness without loving learning leads to the fault of being reckless.’” Confucius asked his disciple Zi Lu if he had heard of the “six virtues and six faults,” and Zi Lu replied that he had not. Confucius then told Zi Lu to sit down and solemnly explained that without a love of learning, six good virtues would be accompanied by six faults. If one only loves Ren (Benevolence) but does not love learning, one can easily be fooled; if one loves intelligence but does not love learning, one becomes rootless and unstable; if one values trustworthiness but does not love learning, one is easily exploited and harmed; if one is straightforward but does not love learning, one’s words become sharp and hurtful; if one admires courage but does not love learning, one tends to cause trouble; if one favors firmness but does not love learning, one acts recklessly and boldly.
One who loves only Ren (Benevolence) yet cannot humbly accept advice or clearly assess the situation will ultimately be deceived by others, and Duke Xiang of Song is the most famous example. Duke Xiang of Song was a ruler of the State of Song during the early to mid Spring and Autumn Period, known for his "righteousness and benevolence." In 638 BCE, he launched an attack on the State of Zheng, and Duke Wen of Zheng sought help from the State of Chu. Upon receiving the news, King Cheng of Chu personally led a large force directly toward the State of Song. Duke Xiang of Song, now panicked, abandoned his assault on Zheng and rushed his army back to his own state overnight. When the Song army set up camp near the Hong River, the Chu troops arrived on the opposite bank. The minister Gongsun Gu suggested to Duke Xiang that they negotiate peace with Chu, but Duke Xiang replied, "Though Chu has strong soldiers and horses, they lack righteousness and benevolence. Though our forces are meager, we are a righteous and benevolent army. How can an unrighteous army defeat a righteous and benevolent one?" The next day, the Chu army began crossing the river. Gongsun Gu again advised attacking them while they were halfway across, but Duke Xiang said, "Attacking them mid-crossing—what kind of righteous and benevolent army would that be?" When the Chu army had fully crossed and was forming ranks on the bank, Gongsun Gu urged Duke Xiang, "If we charge while they are still in disarray forming their lines, we might still win." Duke Xiang scolded him, "To attack before they have formed their ranks—how can that be called a righteous and benevolent army?" Once the Chu army had formed its ranks, it charged, and the Song army fell into chaos. Duke Xiang was unfortunately struck by an arrow and soon died, never having achieved hegemony over the other states, ending his life in regret.