If Ren is to be enlarged to the whole society, it would be as what Confucius once said: "To subdue one's self and return to propriety, is perfect virtue. If a junzi (君子: gentleman, nobleman) can for one day subdue himself and return to propriety, all under heaven will return to Ren (after his example). Is the practice of Ren from a man himself, or is it from others?"[23] "To subdue one's self" and "to return to propriety" are usually interpreted as paralleling teachings, but I don't think this is the best explanation of this doctrine. "To subdue one's self and return to propriety, is perfect virtue" actually means only the "returning to propriety" based on "subduing of one's self" could be regarded as Ren. Mr. Fei Xiaotong had his own interpretation about this doctrine: "Only after one has subdued one's self could one return to propriety. The return to propriety is prerequisite for one to enter the society and become a social man. Perhaps it is just on this point Western and Eastern civilizations have parted, that is, whether to expand or to subdue one's self."[24] I think Mr. Fei has made a proper remark. Zhu Xi also had an exegesis on this doctrine. "To subdue means to conquer," he said, "and the ‘self' means one's personal desires. To return means to restore, and the ‘propriety' means the laws and patterns of the Principle of Heaven." According to this exegesis, one should subdue one's personal desires to abide by proprieties and social criterions. Ren is one's natural virtues ("Love is born in nature."[25]); and propriety is exterior conventions to rule one's behavior, the function of which is to adjust social relationships so that people could live in harmony, as: "The most valuable function of propriety is harmony."[26] Only if one abides by proprieties and social criterions by free will, i.e. by an innate will to love people, could one fulfill the demands of Ren. Thus Confucius asked: "Is the practice of Ren from a man himself, or is it from others?" He made definite prescriptions to the relationship between Ren and propriety: "If a man be without Ren, what has he to do with the rites of propriety? If a man be without Ren, what has he to do with music?"[27] He who sets the rites or music without a heart of Benevolence and Love is hypocrite, and is in a purpose of cheat. It is in this sense that Confucius thought, if people would pursue Ren by freewill and practice the demanding of a heart of Benevolence and Love according to proprieties in everyday life, harmony and peace would be realized in society, -- "If a junzi can for one day subdue himself and return to propriety, all under heaven will return to Ren." I think this Confucian teaching is not totally meaningless for the political leaders of a state or the ruling classes in developed countries (United States in particular). "The politics of Ren" (仁政), or "the Way of virtuous emperor" (王道) instead of "the Way of hegemon" (霸道), is indispensable to "order the state" (治国) and to "harmonize all under Heaven" (平天下). If "the politics of Ren" or "the Way of virtuous emperor" is practiced, different cultures would be able to coexist and develop in peace; while "the Way of hegemon" will bring forth the "clash of civilizations", resulting in monoculturalism and cultural Hegemonism. If Confucian doctrine of Ren is applied in regulating intercultural relationships, clash or war of civilizations will be avoided, and the coexistence of civilizations achieved。