Unity Without Bloodlust
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
孟子见梁襄王。出,语人曰:‘望之不似人君,就之而不见所畏焉。卒然问曰:‘天下恶乎定?’’
English translation
After meeting King Xiang of Liang, Mencius told others, ‘From a distance he did not look like a ruler; up close there was nothing in him to inspire respect. He abruptly asked me, “How can the realm be settled?”’
Original Chinese text
‘吾对曰:‘定于一。’‘孰能一之?’对曰:‘不嗜杀人者能一之。’’
English translation
‘I answered, “It will be settled when it is united.” He asked, “Who can unite it?” I replied, “One who does not delight in killing people.”’
Original Chinese text
‘孰能与之?’对曰:‘天下莫不与也。王知夫苗乎?七八月之间旱,则苗槁矣。’
English translation
‘He asked, “Who would join him?” I answered, “No one under heaven would refuse. You know what happens to young crops: if drought comes in the seventh or eighth month, they wither.”’
Original Chinese text
‘天油然作云,沛然下雨,则苗浡然兴之矣。其如是,孰能御之?’
English translation
‘Then clouds rise thickly and rain pours down; the crops spring up again. Once they grow like that, who can hold them back?’
Original Chinese text
‘今夫天下之人牧,未有不嗜杀人者也。如有不嗜杀人者,则天下之民皆引领而望之矣。’
English translation
‘As for the rulers of the people today, there is none who does not relish killing. If one appeared who did not, people everywhere would crane their necks looking toward him.’
Original Chinese text
‘诚如是也,民归之,由水之就下,沛然谁能御之?’
English translation
‘If that truly happened, people would turn to him as water runs downhill. Who could stop that surging current?’