Mencius

Introduction

ThehandwritingofYashengin"Mencius"isaworkthatrecordsthewordsanddeedsofMengKeandisalsooneoftheimportantclassicsofConfucianism.Thetitlesare:(1)"LiangHuiwang"upanddown;(2)"GongsunChou"upanddown;(3)"TengWengong"upanddown;(4)"LiLou"upanddown;(5))"WanZhang"upanddown;(6)"Gaozi"upanddown;(7)"ToHeart"upanddown.

Translation

(1)Menciussaid:"Hewhodoeshisheartknowshisnature.Knowinghisnatureknowsthenature.Keephisheartandnurturehisnature,soItdoesn’tmatterifyoulivealongtime,youcancultivateone'sbodytodie,soyoucanliveyourlife."

Menciussaid:"Todoyourkindnessistorealizeyourownnature.Torealizeyourownnatureistounderstand."

Hehasadestiny.Saveone’skindnessandmaintainone’snaturetotreatdestiny.Regardlessofwhetherthelifespanislongorshort,donotchangeyourattitude,justcultivateyourcharacterandwaitforthedestiny.Thisisthewaytoestablishanormaldestiny."

(2)Menciussaid:"Coulditbethatthefateisalsoright;sotheonewhoknowsthefatedoesnotstandundertherockwall①.Theonewhodoeshisbesttothedead,thefateisalsoright;thefettersofthedead②arenottherightfate."

Menciussaid:"Nothingisnotadestiny(decision).Obeythedestinyandacceptanormaldestiny;therefore,peoplewhounderstandthedestinywillnotstandunderadangerouswall.Itisnormaltodiebydoingyourbest.It’snotanormalfatetocommitacrimeanddie."

①Rockwall:awallthatisabouttocollapse.②Shackles:theinstrumentsoftortureusedtodetainprisoners.

(3)Menciussaid:"Ifyouseek,youwillgain,butifyougiveup,youwillloseit;itisforthebenefitofthegain,andfortheonewhoisinme.Toseektherightway,togainlife,istoseeknobenefit.Ifyougetit,youcanaskoutside."Menciussaid:"Youcangetitifyouseekit,andyouwillloseitifyouabandonit;soseekingisgoodforgetting,becausewhatyouseekexistswithinme.Thereisawaytoseekit,anditdependsonfatetoobtainit.Itisnothelpfultoseekitinthisway,becausewhatissoughtisoutsideofmyself."

(4)Menciussaid:"EverythingispreparedinIam.Reverseandsincere,happy.Forgiveme,andseekbenevolence."

Menciussaid:"Ihavealltheprinciplesofeverything.Askyourself,thetruthisTherereallyexists,happinessisnogreaterthanthis.Strivetodotheforgivenessofselfandothers,andtheroadofseekingbenevolenceisnocloserthanthis."

(5)Menciussaid:"Doitwithoutknowingit,learningwithoutobservingit,andwithoutknowingthewayforlife,everyone."

Menciussaid:"Ididitbutdidn'tunderstandit,Ididn'tknowitwhenIwasusedtoit.,Ihavewalkedthiswayforalifetime,butIdon’tknowwhatitis.Thiskindofpersonisanordinaryperson."

(6)Menciussaid:"Peoplecannotbeshameless.Shameless,shameless."

Menciussaid:"Onecannotbewithoutshame.Treattheabsenceofshameasshame,thentherewillbenoshame."

(7)Menciussaid:"Shameisforthepeople'sgreat.Forthosewhoarecleverandingenious,thereisnouseofshame.Ifyouarenotashamedthanpeople,whydopeoplehaveit?"

Menciussaid:"Shameisveryimportanttopeople.Playingwithpowertricksandtricks."Peopledon’ttalkaboutshameeverywhere.Idon’tthinkit’sashamedtobeinferiortoothers,howcanIcatchupwithothers?"

(8)Menciussaid:"Theancientwisekingsarekindandforgetthepower;theancientwisemenWhynot?Thetendencytobehappyandforgetothers,soiftheprincesdonotpaytributetothepeople,theycannotseeit.Youcannotseeitandyoucan'thelpit,butyoucan'thelpit?"

Menciussaid:"Theancientwisemonarchsweresokindandforgottheirownpower;howcouldtheancientwisemenbelikethis?Theywerewillingtowalkthewaybutforgotthepowerofothers,sotheprinceswerenotrespectfulandcourteous,andwouldnotbeabletoseethewisemenoften.Meetingsarenotmany.Well,letalonetreatthemassubjects?"

(9)MenciussaidthatSongGoujiansaid,"Youaregoodattraveling?Mylanguageistraveling.Peopleknowit,butalsoclamor;peopledon’tknowit.MenciussaidtoSongGoujian:"Doyoulikelobbying?Itellyou(attitude)tolobby.PeopleunderstandthatIamateaseandwantnothing;iftheydon’tunderstand,Iamatease.Nothingtoaskfor."

Said:"WhycanIbearrogant?"

SongGoujianasked:"HowcanIbeleisurelyandcontentedfornothing?"

Said:"Respectvirtueandhappiness,youcanbearrogant.Therefore,thepoordonotlosetheirrighteousness,andtheydonotdepartfromtheTao.Iftheydonotlosetheirrighteousness,thescholarsgainoneself;iftheydonotdeviatefromtheTao,thepeoplewillnotbedisappointed.Thepeopleofancienttimeswillgainambitionsandbenefitthepeople;iftheyhavenoambitions,self-cultivationcanbeseenintheworld.Poorpeoplecanonlybegoodatone'sownbody,andachievegoodatbothsides.Theworld."

Menciussaid:"Advocatingmoralityandlovingrighteousnesswillmakeyoufeelateasewithoutaskingforanything."Therefore,scholarsdonotlosetheirrighteousnesswhentheyarepoor,anddonotdeviatefromtheTaowhentheyachievetheirgoals.Whentheyarepoor,theydonotlosetheirrighteousness,soscholarscanmaintaintheirintegrity;whentheyaredetermined,theydonotdeviatefromtheTao,sotheywillnotdisappointthepeople.Inancienttimes,whenpeoplegottheirwill,theygavetheirpeopleafavor;whentheydidn'twantto,theycultivatedtheirmoralsandlivedintheworld.Whenyouarepoor,youshouldkeepyourowngoodnessalone,andwhenyouhaveaspirations,youshouldkeepthepeopleoftheworldgood."

[Comment]①SongGoujian:name,lifeexperienceunknown.

(10)Menciussaid:"Thosewhowaitforthekingofliteratureandthenflourishwillbethesameasthecommonpeople."Ifthereisnoliteraryking,youarestillahero."

Menciussaid:"It'sanordinarypersonwhowaitsfortheKingofWen(suchaholymonarch)toappearbeforeworkinghard."Asforoutstandingpeople,evenifthereisnoKingWen,theycanstillworkhard."

(Eleventh)Menciussaid:"AttachedtoitistheHouseofHanandWei.Ifheseeshimselfasifheis②,thenheisfaraway."

Menciussaid:"AddthewealthofHanandWeitohim.Ifhestillthinkshehasnothing,thenheisfarmorethantheaverageperson."

【Notes】①HanandWei'sFamily:ReferstotheHanandWeifamilyofthesixofficialsoftheJinDynastyattheendoftheSpringandAutumnPeriod.Thesetwofamilieshadalotofpowerandalotofpropertyatthattime.②欿(kǎn):"Thephonyborrowedword"kan"isbasedonthemeaningof"YingRuoxu".

(12)Menciussaid:"Usingalostwaytomakethepeoplework,thoughhardworkisnotcomplaint.Tokillthepeoplebythewayoflife,evenifyoudie,donotcomplainaboutthekiller."

Menciussaid:"Accordingtotheprincipleof(toletthepeople)ease,thepeopledonotresenteveniftheyaretired;tokillpeopleaccordingtotheprincipleof(toletthepeople)survive,andthepeoplewhoarekilledwillnotcomplaineveniftheydie.Themanwhokilledhim."

(Thirteen)Menciussaid:"Theoverlord’speoplearehappyastheyare,andtheking’speopleareashavoc."Killthemwithoutresentment,profitwithoutmediocrity,andthepeoplechangethegoodwithoutknowingit.Whatahusbandandagentlemanpassthroughistransformedintoagod,andwhatremainsisthesameflowwiththeheavensandtheearth."

Menciussaid:"Thepeopleoftheoverlordarehappyandhappy,andthepeopleoftheholykingarerelaxedandhappy.(ThepeopleoftheHolyKing)arekilledwithoutresentinganyone,gainingbenefitswithoutrepayinganyone,tendingtobegooddaybyday,butdon'tknowwhocausedthemtodothis.Whereverthesaintpasses,hewillbeinfluenced;whereverhelives,therewillbemiraculouschanges.Thepowerofgoodfortuneisthesameastheskyandtheearth.Isitjustasmallbenefit?"

(14)Menciussaid:"Benevolentspeechisnotasdeepasthebenevolentvoice,andgoodgovernanceisnotasgoodasgoodeducationtowinthepeople."Goodgovernance,thepeoplefearit;goodeducation,thepeopleloveit.Goodgovernancegainspeople'swealth,andgoodeducationgainspopularsupport."

Menciussaid:"Benevolenceisnotasgoodasthereputationofbenevolence,andgoodpoliticsisnotasgoodasgoodeducation.Goodpolitics,thepeopleareafraidof(violating)it;goodeducation,thepeoplearewillingtoacceptit.Goodpoliticscanaccumulatethewealthofthepeople,andgoodeducationcanwinthesupportofthepeople."

(15)Menciussaid:"Thosewhodonotlearnbutareablehavetheirconscience;thosewhodonotworrybutknowhavetheirconscience.Everychildwholoveshisrelatives,andhiselders,respectshisbrother.Kiss,benevolence;respectforlong,righteousness;withouthim,reachtheworld."

Menciussaid:"Whatapersoncandowithoutlearningisconscience;whatonecanknowwithoutthinkingisconscience.Therearenoyoungchildrenwhodon’tknowhowtolovetheirparents;whentheygrowup,thereisnoonewhodoesn’tknowhowtorespecttheirbrothers.Lovingyourparentsisbenevolence,andrespectingyourbrotherisrighteousness.Thereisnootherreason,justbecause(benevolenceandrighteousness)prevailintheworld."

(16)Menciussaid:"Shun'sresidenceisdeepinthemountains,livingwithwoodsandstones,andswimmingwithdeerandpigs.Thereasonisdifferentfromthatofthesavagesinthedeepmountains.Hehearsakindwordsandseesakinddeed."

Menciussaid:"Shunlivedinthemountains,accompaniedbytreesandstones,andgettingalongwithdeerandpigs.Thereareveryfewplaceswherehediffersfromtheuncivilizedpeopleinthemountains.(But)Whenhehearsakindwordsandseesakinddeed,(willdoitimmediately,)likeariverthathasbrokenitsmouth,noonecanstopthesurgingmomentum."

(17)Menciussaid:"Nothingisfornothing,nodesireforwhatitdoesnotwant,that'sall."

Menciussaid:"Don'tlethimdowhathedoesn'twanttodo,don'tlethimwantwhathedoesn'twant,that'sit."

(18)Menciussaid:"Peoplewhohavevirtue,wisdom,skillandknowledgearealwayssufferingfrommalaria.DuguChenisawickedchild②,hisworryisalsodangerous,andhisworryisalsodeep,sohereachesit."

Menciussaid:"Apersonwithvirtue,wisdom,strategy,andknowledgeisoftenbecausehelivesinadversity.Onlytheloneministersandevildoers,theyhaveafearfulmind,andtheythinkaboutthetroublesarefar-reaching,sotheyareunderstandable."

【Comment】①Sickness(chèn):righteousnessanddisaster.②Loneministerandevilson:loneminister,theestrangedminister;evilson,notthesonofhiswife.

(19)Menciussaid:"Thosewhohaveaffairswiththeemperor,ifthingsaretheruler,aretheoneswhoarehappy;thosewhohaveanancestralgrasslandministers,andthosewhotaketheancestralgrasslandforpleasure;thosewhohaveheavenlypeople①canreachtheworld.Andthosewhodoitlater;thosewhohavegrown-ups,andthosewhoarerightaboutthemselvesandthingsareright."

Menciussaid:"Therearepeoplewhoservethemonarch,whotreatsacertainmonarchashappiness;thosewhohaveastablecountry,thosewhoregardthestablecountryasahappyperson;ThepersonwhoholdsthepositionandpreservesthelawofnatureisthepersonwhoknowsthattheTaocanbepromotedintheworldandthenwalkstheTao;thereisasaint,whocorrectshimselfandthentheforeignobjectsarecorrected."

[Notes]①Tianmin:ZhuXi's"FourBooksCollectionNotes"says:"Thepeoplearethepeoplewhohavenoposition.Withallofthem,theyarethepeopleofheaven,sotheyarecalledthepeopleofheaven.""

(20)Menciussaid:"Agentlemanhasthreejoys,butthekingisnotinharmonywithCunyan."Parentsexist,brothershavenoreason,onehappy;tolookuptothesky,tobowtoothers,twohappy;tobeeducatedbytheworld’stalentsisalsothreehappy.Thegentlemanhasthreejoys,butthekingisnotwithCunyan."

Menciussaid:"Agentlemanhasthreethingsworthyofhappiness,sayingthatWangTianxiaisnotamongthem.Parentsarealive,brothersarenotsickordisaster,thisisthefirsthappything;raisingone'sheadworthyofthesky,bowingone'sheadworthyofothers,thisisthesecondhappything;educatingthembytheworld'soutstandingtalents,thisisthethirdAhappything.Thegentlemanhasthesethreehappythings,whicharenotincludedintheunificationoftheworldwithbenevolence."

(21)Menciussaid:"Allthepeopleinthevastland,thegentlemanwantswhathewants,butwhatheenjoysdoesnotexist;hestandsinthemiddleoftheworld,setsthepeopleofthefourseas,andthegentlemanenjoyswhathewants..Thenatureofagentleman,althoughheisgreat,doesnothurthim,althoughlivinginpovertydoesnothurthim,heisdividedintodifferentreasons.Thenatureofagentleman,benevolence,justice,etiquette,andwisdomarerootedintheheart,andhisappearanceisalsoobvious."

Menciussaid:"Thevastland,themanypeople,thegentlemanwantstoget,buthishappinessisnotinthisrespect;standinginthecenteroftheworld,thepeopleoftheworldarestable,thegentlemanfeelshappyaboutit,Buthisnatureisnotinthisregard.Thenatureofagentleman,evenifhisidealsarefullyrealized,willnotincreaseasaresult,andevenifembarrassedandsecluded,itwillnotdecreaseduetothis,becausethedutyhasbeendetermined.Gentlemen’snature,benevolence,justice,etiquetteandwisdomarerootedintheirhearts.Thecomplexiontheyproduceispureandmoist,appearingontheface,fillingthebody,andextendingtothelimbs.Thelimbsdon'thavetowaitforhisinstructionstounderstandwhattodo."

(22)Menciussaid:"BoYi,livingonthecoastoftheNorthSea,waswrittenbythekingofWenwen,andXingsaid:‘Siboisback,IheardthatXiboisagoodoldman."TheTaigongmadeamonkandlivedonthecoastoftheEastChinaSea.Heheardthatthekingwrote,andXingsaid:"Herecomesback,IheardthatXiboisgoodfortheelderly."Therearegoodold-agecareintheworld,andbenevolentpeoplethinkthattheybelongtothemselves.Afive-acrehouse,withmulberriesunderthetreewall,andsilkworms,isenoughfortheelderly.Fivehens,twohens,nolossoftime,theoldmanisenoughtohavenomeat.Onehundredacresoflandcanbecultivatedbyeachhusband,andafamilyofeightisenoughtonotbehungry.Theso-calledXibogoodold-agerscontroltheirfields,teachthetreesandanimals,andguidetheirwivestoraisethemfortheelderly.Fiftyisnotsilkandnotwarm,andseventyisnotfullofmeat.Notwarmorfulliscalledcoldanddiscouraged.ThepeopleoftheKingofLiteraturedonothavecoldanddiscouragedoldpeople,sothisisalsotrue."

Menciussaid:"BoYiavoidedKingZhouandlivedinseclusionontheshoreoftheNorthSea.TaigongJiangavoidsKingZhouandlivesinseclusionontheshoreoftheEastChinaSea.Therearepeoplewhoaregoodatservingoldpeopleintheworld,sobenevolentpeopleregardhimasapersontodefectto.Mulberrytreesareplantedunderthewallsoffiveacresofresidentialland.Womenuseittoraisesilkworms,andtheelderlycanwearsilkcottonclothes.Raisefivehensandtwosows,andifyoudon’tmisstheirbreedingperiod,theelderlywillnotbeshortofmeatatall.Onehundredacresofarablelandiscultivatedbymen,andafamilyofeightwillnotbehungryatall.Theso-calledXiboisgoodatservingtheelderly,(itisbecauseofhim)stipulatingthepeople'sacresofhomes,educatingthemtoplantmulberryandraisinglivestock,andguidinghiswifeandchildrentoservetheelderly.Afifty-year-oldwillnotbewarmwithoutwearingsilkcotton,andaseventy-year-oldwillnotbefullwithoutmeat.Ifyouarenotwarmorfull,itiscalledbeingcoldandhungry.TherewasnooneamongthepeopleofKingWenwhosufferedfromfreezingorstarvation,andthatwasthecase."

(Twenty-three)Menciussaid:"Ifyouchangeyourfieldsandcollecttaxes,thepeoplewillmakeyourich."Whenyoueat,youcanuseitasagift,andyoucan'tusemoney.Thepeopledonotlivebyfireorwater,andwhenthetwilightknocksonthedoorofpeopletoaskforwaterandfire,thosewhohavenoemancipationareenough.Thesaintruledtheworld,andmadethesundropslikefireandwater.Sunflowersarelikefireandwater,buttherearepeoplewhoareunkind?"

Menciussaid:"(Letthepeople)planttheirlandwellandreducetheirtaxes,sothatthepeoplecanbecomerich.Eatitatacertaintimeanduseitaccordingtotherulesofetiquette,andyouwillnotbeabletouseupyourbelongings.Peoplecan'tlivewithoutwaterandfire.Atnight,theyknockonpeople'sdoortoaskforwaterandfire.Noonewillrefusetogiveit.Thesaintsgoverningtheworldmustmakethepeople'sfoodasmuchasfireandwater.Thereissomuchfoodasfireandwater,sohowcanthecommonpeoplebeunkind?"

(Twenty-four)Menciussaid:"ConfuciusclimbedDongshanandXiaolu,climbedTaishanbuttheworldissmall,soitisdifficultforthosewhowatchtheseatobethewater,andthosewhoswiminthegateofthesaintsaredifficulttosay.Therearetrickstowatchthewater,andyoumustwatchthescenes.Thesunandthemoonarebright,andthelightwillshine.Flowingwaterisathing,anditcannotbedonewithoutscience;agentleman'sambitionisintheway,anditcannotbeachieved."

Menciussaid:"ConfuciusclimbedDongshanandfeltthatthecountryofLuhadbecomesmaller.WhenheclimbedMountTai,hefeltthattheworldhadbecomesmaller.Therefore,thosewhohaveseentheseacannotbeattractedbyotherwaters.Now,thosewhostudyunderthesagecanhardlybeattractedbyotherspeeches.Therearecertainwaystowatchthewater,andyoumustwatchitswaves.Thereislightinthesunandthemoon,andallthesmallgapsmustbeilluminated.Flowingwaterdoesnotflowforwardunlessitisfullofpits;agentlemanwhoisaspiringtoTaowillnotbeabletoreachituntilitreachesacertainlevel."

(Twenty-five)Menciussaid:"Whenthecockcrowing,thosewhobreedforgoodarealsothefollowersofShun;whentheroostercrowing,thosewhoaregoodforbreedingarealsothefollowersofthefoot.IfyouwanttoknowthedifferencebetweenShunandYu,thereisnoother,butbetweengoodandgood."

Menciussaid:"Whentheroostercrows,yougetupanddogooddeedstirelessly.TheyarepeoplelikeShun;whentheroostercrows,youarelikepeoplewhoareconstantlyseekingprofit.IfyouwanttoknowthedifferencebetweenShunandYuan,thereisnothingelsebutthedifferencebetweendoinggoodandseekingprofit."

(twenty-six)Menciussaid:"YangZitakesmeasme①,pluckingahairandbenefitingtheworld,notfornothing.Mozialsolovestheworld,sohecandoitforhim.Zimostickstothemiddle③;stickstothemiddleisclose.Thereisnorighttoholdon,butonestillholdson.Theonewhoperseveresinoneevilwillbehisthief,andahundredwillbeabolishedbyone."

Menciussaid:"YangZipursues'forme',andpullingouttherootsofthehairisgoodfortheworld,andhedoesn'tdoit.Moziadvocated'universallove',(evenif)hurtfromheadtotoe,aslongasitisgoodfortheworld,heiswillingtodoit.Zimoholdsanintermediateattitude,andanintermediateattitudeisclosetoright.(However,)holdinganintermediateattitudewithoutflexibility,andstillclingingtoonepoint.ThereasonwhyclingingtoonepointisbadisbecauseitdamagestheTao,graspingonepointanddiscardingeverythingelse."

【Notes】①YangZi:YangZhu,seeNotetoChapter9of"TengWengongPartII".②Movingtopandheel:Mo,undertheguiseof■,"Shuowen":"■,Rottentoo."Extendedtodamage.Release,suspectedtobe"to".Manypredecessorsquotedthisas"to".③Zimo:AnativeofLuduringtheWarringStatesPeriod.

(27)Menciussaid:"Thosewhoarehungryeat,andthosewhoarethirstydrink.Isittheonlydangerofhungerandthirst?People'sheartsarealsoharmful.Peoplecannotbeharmedbyhungerandthirst,buttheyarenotasworryingasothers."

Menciussaid:"Hungrypeoplethinkanyfoodisdelicious,andthirstypeoplethinkanywaterisdelicious.Thisdoesnottastethenormaltasteoffood,butisdamagedbyhungerandthirst.Forthesakeof.Isitpossiblethatonlythemouthandstomacharedamagedbyhungerandthirst?People'sheartsarealsodamaged.Peoplecannotturnthedamageof(similar)hungerandthirstintodamagetotheheart,then(forawhile)theycan'tcatchupwithothers,andthereisnoneedtoworryaboutit."

(Twenty-eight)Menciussaid:"LiuXiahuidoesn'tchangehisintroductionwiththethreepublics.""

Menciussaid:"LiuXiahuiwillnotchangehisethicsjustbecauseofbeingahighofficial.""

(Twenty-nine)Menciussaid:"Thosewhohavesomethingtodoarediggingwells,anddiggingwellscan'treachthespring,andtheyareabandoningwells.""

Menciussaid:"Doingthingsislikediggingawell.Ithasbeendrilledsixorsevenfeetdeepbeforethespringwaterhasbeendrilled.Itisstillawastewell."

[Comment]①Rèn(rèn):Sameas"Ren".Inancienttimes,sevenfeet(oreightfeet)isoneRen.

(Thirty)Menciussaid:"YaoandShunaretheonesofsex;TangandWuaretheonesofthebody;thefivetyrantsarethefakeones.Ifyoudon’treturnforalongtime,doyouknowwhatiswrong?"

Menciussaid:"YaoandShunareinherentlybenevolentandrighteous,KingTangandKingWuarepersonallypracticingbenevolenceandrighteousness,andthefivetyrantsareundertheguiseofbenevolenceandrighteousness.Ifyoudon’treturnitforalongtime,howcanyouknowthattheyhavenorighteousness?"

(Thirty-first)GongsunChousaid:"Yiyinsaid:"Ifyoudon'tletthingsgowrong,putTaijiainTong,andthepeoplewillbehappy."TaiJiaxian,andviceversa,MindaYue.’Awisemanisaminister,butifhisrulerisnotwise,hecanlethimgo?"

GongsunChousaid:"YiYinsaid:'Idon’tgetclosetopeoplewhodon’tfollowhumanityandrighteousness.IbanishedTaijiatoTongyi.Thepeopleareveryhappy;Taijiahaschangedforthebetterandlethimcomeback(Asamonarch),thepeopleareveryhappy.’Awisemanisaminister,andthemonarchisnotgood.Canhebeexiledinthefirstplace?"

Menciussaid:"IfyouhaveYiyin'swill,youcandoit;ifyoudon'thaveYiyin'swill,youcandoit.""

Menciussaid:"IfyouhaveYiYin'sintention,it'sfine;ifyoudon'thaveYiYin'sintention,it'susurpingthethrone."

(Thirty-two)GongsunChousaid:"ThePoetrysaid:"Novegetarianmeals."’①Agentlemaneatswithoutploughing,whynot?"

GongsunChousaid:"The"BookofSongs"says:‘Don’teatfornothing.'Whatisthereasonwhyagentlemandoesnotcultivatebuteatstoo?"

Menciussaid:"Theresidenceofagentlemanisacountry.Ifthemonarchusesit,hewillbesafe,wealthyandhonorable;ifhischildrenfollowit,hewillbefilialandloyal."Novegetarianfood",whichoneisgreaterthanitis?"

Menciussaid:"Agentlemanlivesinthiscountry,andtherulerofthiscountrycanusehimtoobtainstability,prosperity,dignity,andglory;hisdisciplescanfollowhim,andtheycanbefilialtotheirparentsandrespecttheirbrothers.,Dedicationandhonesty.‘Don’teatfornothing’,whichismoremeritoriousthanthis?"

[Comment]①Thissentencecomesfrom"TheBookofSongs·WeiFeng·Futan".

(Thirty-three)WangZidianasked①:"What'sthematterwiththescholar?""

Theprinceasked:"Whatshouldthetaxido?""

Menciussaid:"Shangzhi."

Menciussaid:"Makeyourselfnoble."

Said:"WhatisShangzhi?""

Theprinceasked:"Whatdoesitmeantomakeyourselfnoble?""

Said:"Benevolenceandrighteousnessareall.Itisnotbenevolenttokilloneinnocence,anditisnotrighttotakeitfornothing.What'swrong?Whatisbenevolence;isthewayevil?Righteousnessisalso.Bebenevolentandrighteous,bepreparedforadults."

Menciussaid:"It'sjustbenevolenceandjustice."Itisunkindtokillaninnocentperson,anditshouldnotbetakenfromone'sownthings.Itisunrighteous.Whereistheplacetolive?Renis;whereisthewaytogo?Righteousnessis.Toliveonbenevolenceandwalkonrighteousness,(theneven)agentlemanhaseverythingtodo."

[Comment]①Princepad:thesonofthekingofQi,thenamepad.

(34)Menciussaid:"Zhongzi①,unrighteousnessandthesamecountrywillsuffer.Everyonebelievesthatitistherighteousnessofshetaneatingbeansoup.Peoplearenotdead,relatives,monarchsandministersupanddown.Whobelievesinthebigbythesmall,Xiisit?"

Menciussaid:"ChenZhongzi,(if)unreasonablygiveQiGuotohim,hewillnotacceptit.Everyonebelievesthis,(but)thisisjustrejectingabasketoffoodIt'snothinglikeabowlofsoup.Noone’ssinsaregreaterthannottalkingabouttherelationshipbetweenrelatives,monarchsandsubjects.Becausehehassmallrighteousnessandbelievesthathehasgreatrighteousness,howcanitbepossible?"

[Note]①Zhongzi:ChenZhongzi,seethenotetoChapter10ofthebook"TengWengong2".

(Thirty-five)TaoYingasked①:"Shunistheemperor,Gaotaoisthescholar,andFenglikills,sowhat?"

TaoYingasked:"ShunistheemperorandGaoTaoisthejudge.(If)FengLikilledsomeone,whatshouldIdo?"

Menciussaid:"It'sjustamatterofpersistence.""

Menciussaid:"Justcatchhim.""

"ButthenShuncouldn'thelpbutfightwithhim?""

(TaoYingasked:)"So,doesn'tShunstopit?""

Said:"FuShunissoevilandbanned?"Thehusbandfeelsit."

Menciussaid:"HowcanShunstopit?"(GaoTao'spower)canbearit."

"ButwhataboutShun?""

(TaoYingasked:)"SowhatshouldShundo?""

Shunsaid:"Shunseesabandoningtheworldasmuchasweare."Stealingtheburdenandfleeing,stayingontheseashore,joyfulforlife,happyandforgettingtheworld."

Menciussaid:"Shunseesabandoningtheworldlikeabandoningbrokenstrawsandals.(Sohewill)Secretlyrunawaywithhisfatheronhisback,livebythecoast,happilyallhislife,sohappythathehasforgottentheworld."

[Comment]①TaoYing:Menciusdisciple.②XinRan:Happylook.

(36)Menciusself-controlstheQi①,seesthesonoftheKingofQi,andsighsSaid:"Iliveandmoveqi,raisemybody,andliveingreatness!Thehusbandisnotthesonofaperfectman?"

MenciuswentfromFanyitoQi,andsawKingQi’ssonfromadistance,andsaidwithemotion:"Thelivingenvironmentchangesthetemperamentofpeople,andthemaintenancechangesthephysiqueofpeopleandtheenvironmentinwhichtheylive."Itreallymatters!Isn'theasonlikeeveryoneelse?"

Menciussaid:"Theroyalwomb,chariotsandhorses,andclothesaremostlythesameasothers,andtheprinceislikeadifferentperson,andhisresidenceisalsonatural;ishewholivesintheworld?TheSongofLuJuncallsatthegateofQinze.Thedefendersaid:‘Thisisnotmyprince,howishisvoicelikemyprince?’Thereisnoother,butsimilar."

Menciussaid:"Theprince’shouse,carriage,andclothesaremostlythesameasotherpeople’s,buttheprinceislikethat(different)becauseoftheenvironmentinwhichhelives.Whataboutthepeoplewholivein('ren'this)inthewidestresidenceintheworld?(Ononeoccasion)LuJunwenttoSongStateandshoutedundertheSongState'sQinzeCityGate.Thegatekeepersaid:‘Thismanisnotourmonarch,whydoeshisvoicesoundlikeourmonarch?’Thereisnootherreason,thelivingenvironmentissimilar."

[Notes]①Fan:TheplacenameofQicountry,itsplaceisinthesoutheastofFanxianCounty,ShandongProvince.

(37)Menciussaid:"Eatandlove,hogIt'salsooflove;loveanddisrespect,ofbeastsandanimals.Thosewhoarerespectful,thosewhoarenotworthyofthecurrencyarealso.Respectfulandinsubstantial,agentlemancan'tbefalselyrestrained."

Menciussaid:"Ifyouonlyfeedwithoutpetting,it'sliketreatingapig;ifyoucaresswithoutbeingrespectful,it'slikeraisingananimal.Respectissomethingyoushouldhavebeforethegiftisgiven.Onlyarespectfulformwithoutsincerity,agentlemancannotbeboundbyitinvain."

(Thirty-eight)Menciussaid:"Formsandcolorsarealsonatural;onlythesaintcanthenpracticetheform."

Menciussaid:"Physicalappearanceisinnate.Onlywhenyoubecomeasaintcanyoubeworthyof(his)appearance.""

(Thirty-nine)KingQiXuanwantsashortmourning.GongsunChousaid:"Thelong-termmourningisover?"

KingQiXuanwantstoshortentheperiodofmourning.GongsunChousaid:"It'sbettertospendayearinmourning(foryourparents)thannottomourn,right?"

Menciussaid:"ItisthearmofthebrotherofJuorWan,andthesoniscalledXuXuyuner,whoisalsotaughtbyfilialpiety."

Menciussaid:"It'slikesomeoneistwistinghisbrother'sarm,butyoutellhimsomethinglikeslowlytwistingit,(what'stheuse?)Youjusthavetousefilialpietyforyourparents,Respectbrother'sprinciplestoeducatehimontheline."

Theprincehashismotherdeceased,andhisFuispleasedformonthsoffuneral.GongsunChousaid,"Howaboutthisone?""

Aprince'sbiologicalmotherdied,andhisteacheraskedthemonarchforhimtoallowhimtomournforafewmonths.GongsunChouasked(Mencius):"HowshouldIlookatthingslikethis?""

Said:"It'simpossibletogettheendofdesire."Althoughitisgettingbetterforaday,itisalsosaidthattheforbiddenofFuMoisnotenough."

Menciussaid:"ThisisbecauseIwantedtoservemourningforthreeyearsandcouldn'tdoit."Evenifonemoredayofmourningisbetterthannotbeingmourned,thisisforthosewhohavenotforbiddenhim,buthehimselfrefusestomourn."

[Note]①Theabovetwosentences,accordingtothe"Rituals·MourningApparel",afterthedeathofhismother(theconcubineoftheprinces),theprincedoesnothavetogotothemourningbecausehisfatherisstillthere.Maiisonly,so"monthsoffuneral"isnotashortfuneral.

(Forty)Menciussaid:"Thereasonwhyagentlemanteachesfive:thosewhoareliketherainoftime,thosewhohavevirtuous,Therearewealthypeople①,therearequestioners,andthereareprivatelovers.Thesefivearethereasonwhyagentlemanteaches."

Menciussaid:"Therearefivewaystoeducategentlemen:therearethosethatareliketimelyraintomoisturizeandmoisturize,thosethathelpdevelopmorality,thosethathelpdeveloptalents,thosethatanswerquestions,andthosethat(byvirtueLearningmakespeople)taughtinprivate.Thesefivemethodsarehowgentlemeneducate."

[Comment]①Cai:sameas"cai".

(41)GongsunChousaid:"Taoishighandbeautiful,anditshouldbenatural,likeIt'snotreachable;whynotmakehimfertiledaybyday?"

GongsunChousaid:"Taoisveryhighandverygood,(butyouhavetolearnit)thatislikeclimbingtothesky,itseemsimpossibletoachieve;whynotletitbecomehopefultoachieveMakepeoplepursueitrelentlesslyeveryday?"

Menciussaid:"ThemasterdoesnotchangethewasteofShengmoforclumsywork,andYidoesnotchangehisrateforclumsyshooting."Agentlemaniseagerbutnoteager,butleapsaswell.Standinthemiddle,andthosewhocanfollowit."

Menciussaid:"AsmartcarpenterwillnotchangeorabandonShengmobecauseofclumsyapprenticeship,andYiwillnotchangethestandardofbowdrawingbecauseofaclumsyshooter.Agentleman(teachingothersisjustliketeachingotherstoshootarrows),buthedoesn'tshootarrowswhenhedrawshisbow,justeagertotry(todemonstrate).ThegentlemanstandsinthemiddleoftheTao,andthecapablepeoplewillfollowhimtolearn."

[Note]①Shengmo:atoolforcarpenterstotakestraight.

(42)Menciussaid:"ThereisTaointheworld,andyoudiewithTao;thereisnoTaointheworld,Martyredbythebody.HehasneverheardofanyonewhohasdiedinthewayoftheTao."

Menciussaid:"Theworldisclearandpeaceful,Taocanbeexecutedbyme;theworldischaoticanddark,soIdon'thesitatetodedicatemylifetoTao."IhaveneverheardofsacrificingTaotocatertoothers."

(Forty-three)Gongduzisaid:"TengGengzhiisatthedoor,andifyoudon’tanswer,whynotanswer?""

Gongduzisaid:"WhenTengGengstudiedunderyoursect,itseemedthathebelongedtosomeonewhowantedtobepolite,butyoudidn'tanswer(hisquestion).Why?"

Menciussaid:"Askwiththenoble,askwiththetalents,askwiththelong,askwiththemerits,askwiththereason,nothingisanswered.TenghastwoYan."

Menciussaid:"Idon'twanttoanswerquestionsbasedonstatus,abilitytoaskquestions,oldagetoaskquestions,merittoaskquestions,andoldfriendshiptoaskquestions.Tengevenaccountedfortwoofthem."

【Notes】①TengGeng:TheyoungerbrotherofGuojunTeng,oncelearnedfromMencius

(Forty-four)Menciussaid:"Whatisnecessaryisnothingbuteverything..Whatisthickisthin,andeverythingisthin.Thosewhoadvanceinsharpnesswillretreat."

Menciussaid:"Forthosewhoshouldn'tbeabandonedbutabandoned,thenthereisnoonetoabandon.Ifyoutreatpeoplewhoshouldbetreatedfavorably,thenthereisnoonetotreatfavorably.Peoplewhomoveintoofastretreatquickly."

(Forty-five)Menciussaid:"Agentlemanisgoodforthings,loveisforbenevolence;forpeople,benevolenceisforlove."Bekindandbenevolent,benevolentandlovethings."

Menciussaid:"Agentlemancherishesallthingsanddoesnothavetogivebenevolence;forthepeople,hedoesnotneedtoberegardedasrelatives."(Gentlemen)Firstofall,wemustgetclosetorelatives,andthengivebenevolencetothepeople;givebenevolencetothepeople,andthencherishallthings."

(Forty-six)Menciussaid:"Anyonewhoknowsknowsnothing,andthetaskisurgent;thebenevolentlovesall,anditisanurgenttaskforthekind.YaoandShundonotknoweverythingaboutthings,sotheymustfirstdothingsfirst;YaoandShundonotlovepeopleeverywhere,butareeagertoberelatives.Itisnotathree-yearmourning,buttheinvestigationofthestubbornnessandthesmallmerits1;thelettingofthefoodandtheflowoftherice2,andthequestioningwithouttheteeth3,itisaignoranceofthetask."

Menciussaid:"Smartpeopleshouldknoweverything,(butalways)eagertoknowwhattodoinfrontofthem;humanbeingsshouldloveeverything,(butalways)eagertolovefirstRelativesandwisemen.YaoandShun’swisdomcannotknoweverythingbecausetheyareeagertodothebigthingsinfrontofthem;YaoandShun’sbenevolencecannotloveeveryone,becausetheyareeagertolovetheirrelativesandwisemenfirst.(Ifsomeone)doesnotpracticethethree-yearfuneral,butpaysattentiontofuneralssuchasnumbnessandsmallwork(threetofivemonths);(dininginfrontoftheelder,)eatsanddrinks,butpaysattentiontonotbreakingdrymeatwithteeth(Thiskindofsmalletiquette),whichiscallednotknowingthepriorities."

[Notes]①Qiang,XiaoGong:thenameofmourningclothes.Ancientmourningclothesaredividedintofivegrades:Zhanfai,Qishui,DaGong,XiaoGong,andMa.TheperiodofmourningisdividedintothreeyearsandoneYears,ninemonths,fivemonths,threemonthsandfive,etc.②Chuò:put,big;chu,drink.Itmeanstoeatanddrinksoup.Accordingtotherulesofetiquette,infrontoftheelderIt’sdisrespectfultoeatanddrinklikethis.③Chijue:Thisreferstobreakingdrymeatwithteeth

Mencius(about372-289),nameKe,wordZiyu,anativeofZouduringthemid-WarringStatesperiod(nowsoutheastofZouCounty,Shandong),notfarfromQufu,thehometownofConfucius.

Menciusisafamousthinker,politician,educator,andinheritorofConfuciusdoctrineMencius,animportantrepresentativeofConfucianism.Accordingtolegend,MenciuswasadescendantoftheMengSunnoblemanoftheLuKingdom.Helosthisfatheratayoungageandwaspoorinhisfamily.IhavebeentoLiang(Wei)State,QiState,SongState,TengState,LuState.

Atthattime,severalbigcountrieswerecommittedtoenrichingthecountryandstrengtheningthearmy,strivingtoachieveunitythroughviolence.HeinheritedConfucius."Benevolence"thoughtanddevelopeditintothe"BenevolentGovernance"thought,whichiscalled"SubSage".