“Only after weighing do we know what is heavy or light; only after measuring do we know what is long or short. This is true of things, and even more so of the mind.” The sentence appears in Mencius, King Hui of Liang I. “Weighing” refers to using a balance; “measuring” to applying a standard of length.
Mencius asks King Xuan of Qi why his compassion for an ox has not extended to his people. The sentence is not general praise for rationality. It asks the king to test whether his concern is consistent. Today, sincerity alone is still insufficient evidence of goodwill. We should also ask whom our concern reaches, whom it leaves out, and whether the consequences support our own assessment.
https://ctext.org/mengzi/liang-hui-wang-i/zhs
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