Relations with Neighboring States
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
齐宣王问曰:‘交邻国有道乎?’孟子对曰:‘有。惟仁者为能以大事小,是故汤事葛,文王事昆夷。惟智者为能以小事大,故太王事獯鬻,勾践事吴。’
English translation
King Xuan of Qi asked, ‘Is there a right way to deal with neighboring states?’ Mencius answered, ‘Yes. Only a benevolent ruler can care for a smaller state from a position of greater power: Tang did so with Ge, and King Wen with the Kunyi. Only a wise ruler can serve a greater state from a position of lesser power: the Great King served the Xunyu, and Goujian served Wu.’
Original Chinese text
‘以大事小者,乐天者也;以小事大者,畏天者也。乐天者,保天下;畏天者,保其国。’
English translation
‘A greater state that treats a smaller one well delights in Heaven's order; a smaller state that deals carefully with a greater one stands in awe of Heaven. The former may preserve the realm; the latter may preserve its own state.’
Original Chinese text
‘《诗》云:畏天之威,于时保之。’王曰:‘大哉言矣!寡人有疾,寡人好勇。’
English translation
‘The Odes say: “Stand in awe of Heaven's might, and thereby preserve what you hold.”’ The king replied, ‘Those are grand words. Yet I have a failing: I am fond of valor.’
Original Chinese text
对曰:‘王请无好小勇。夫抚剑疾视曰:彼恶敢当我哉!此匹夫之勇,敌一人者也。王请大之!’
English translation
Mencius replied, ‘Your Majesty, do not prize a small kind of courage. Clutching a sword, glaring, and saying “Who dares stand against me?” is one man's bravado, fit only to face one opponent. Let your courage take a greater form.’
Original Chinese text
‘《诗》云:王赫斯怒,爰整其旅,以遏徂莒,以笃周祜,以对于天下。此文王之勇也。文王一怒而安天下之民。’
English translation
‘The Odes tell how the king rose in anger, ordered his troops, checked an incursion, secured the Zhou people's welfare, and answered to the realm. That was King Wen's courage. His anger brought peace to the people.’
Original Chinese text
‘《书》曰:天降下民,作之君,作之师,惟曰:其助上帝,宠之四方。有罪无罪,惟我在,天下曷敢有越厥志?’
English translation
‘The Documents say: “Heaven brought forth the people and set rulers and teachers over them, to aid the Lord on High and be honored throughout the four quarters. The guilty I shall punish, and the innocent I shall protect. With me here, who under Heaven would dare defy that purpose?”’
Original Chinese text
‘一人衡行于天下,武王耻之,此武王之勇也。而武王亦一怒而安天下之民。今王亦一怒而安天下之民,民惟恐王之不好勇也。’
English translation
‘King Wu could not bear to see even one person running unchecked through the realm. That was his courage. His anger, too, brought peace to the people. If Your Majesty's anger likewise secured their peace, the people would only fear that you did not love such courage.’