Protect the People and Rule
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
齐宣王问曰:‘齐桓、晋文之事可得闻乎?’孟子对曰:‘仲尼之徒,无道桓、文之事者,是以后世无传焉;臣未之闻也。无以,则王乎?’
English translation
King Xuan of Qi asked, ‘May I hear about the deeds of Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin?’ Mencius replied, ‘Confucius's followers did not discuss those hegemons, so no account was passed down to later generations. I have not heard one either. If we must speak of rule, shall we speak of the way to become a true king?’
Original Chinese text
曰:‘德何如,则可以王矣?’曰:‘保民而王,莫之能御也。’曰:‘若寡人者,可以保民乎哉?’曰:‘可。’曰:‘何由知吾可也?’
English translation
The king asked, ‘What kind of virtue would let me rule as a true king?’ Mencius answered, ‘Protect the people, and no one can stand in the way of your kingship.’ ‘Could someone like me protect them?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘How do you know I could?’
Original Chinese text
曰:‘臣闻之胡龁曰,王坐于堂上,有牵牛而过堂下者,王见之,曰:‘牛何之?’对曰:‘将以衅钟。’王曰:‘舍之!吾不忍其觳觫,若无罪而就死地。’
English translation
Mencius said, ‘Hu He told me this: while you sat in the hall, a man led an ox past below. You asked, “Where is the ox going?” He answered, “It is to be slaughtered so its blood can consecrate a new bell.” You said, “Release it. I cannot bear to see it trembling, like an innocent being led to death.”’
Original Chinese text
‘对曰:‘然则废衅钟与?’曰:‘何可废也?以羊易之!’不识有诸?’曰:‘有之。’
English translation
‘The man asked, “Should the bell rite be canceled, then?” You said, “How could it be? Replace the ox with a sheep.” Did this happen?’ The king answered, ‘It did.’
Original Chinese text
曰:‘是心足以王矣。百姓皆以王为爱也,臣固知王之不忍也。’王曰:‘然。诚有百姓者。齐国虽褊小,吾何爱一牛?即不忍其觳觫,若无罪而就死地,故以羊易之也。’
English translation
Mencius said, ‘That feeling is enough for you to achieve kingly rule. The people think you were being stingy, but I knew you could not bear the ox's suffering.’ The king said, ‘Yes, some people do say that. Even if Qi is small, why would I begrudge one ox? I changed it for a sheep because I could not bear to see it trembling as if it were innocent and led to death.’
Original Chinese text
曰:‘王无异于百姓之以王为爱也。以小易大,彼恶知之?王若隐其无罪而就死地,则牛羊何择焉?’
English translation
Mencius said, ‘Do not be surprised that the people thought you stingy. You exchanged a larger animal for a smaller one; how could they know your reason? If it was an innocent creature's death that pained you, what difference is there between ox and sheep?’
Original Chinese text
王笑曰:‘是诚何心哉?我非爱其财而易之以羊也。宜乎百姓之谓我爱也。’
English translation
The king laughed. ‘What was I thinking? It was not to save the cost of an ox that I exchanged it for a sheep. No wonder the people called me stingy.’
Original Chinese text
曰:‘无伤也,是乃仁术也,见牛未见羊也。君子之于禽兽也,见其生,不忍见其死;闻其声,不忍食其肉。是以君子远庖厨也。’
English translation
Mencius said, ‘That does no harm. It was a way for your humane impulse to find expression: you had seen the ox, not the sheep. A person of conscience, having seen an animal alive, cannot bear to watch it die; having heard its cry, cannot bear to eat its flesh. That is why such a person keeps away from the kitchen.’
Original Chinese text
王说曰:‘《诗》云:‘他人有心,予忖度之。’夫子之谓也。夫我乃行之,反而求之,不得吾心。夫子言之,于我心有戚戚焉。此心之所以合于王者,何也?’
English translation
Pleased, the king said, ‘The Odes say, “Another has a thought; I can fathom it.” That is you, Master. I acted as I did, but when I looked back I could not understand my own heart. Your words have struck a chord with me. How can this feeling lead to kingly rule?’
Original Chinese text
曰:‘有复于王者曰:‘吾力足以举百钧,而不足以举一羽;明足以察秋毫之末,而不见舆薪。’则王许之乎?’曰:‘否。’
English translation
Mencius asked, ‘Suppose someone told you, “I can lift a hundred jun but not a feather; I can see the tip of an autumn hair but not a cartload of firewood.” Would you believe him?’ The king answered, ‘No.’
Original Chinese text
‘今恩足以及禽兽,而功不至于百姓者,独何与?然则一羽之不举,为不用力焉;舆薪之不见,为不用明焉;百姓之不见保,为不用恩焉。故王之不王,不为也,非不能也。’
English translation
‘Your concern can reach an animal, yet your people receive no benefit from it. Why? Not lifting a feather means failing to use one's strength; not seeing a cartload of wood means failing to use one's sight. If the people are not protected, it is because you have not put that concern to work for them. Your failure to rule as a true king comes from not doing so, not from being unable to do so.’
Original Chinese text
曰:‘不为者与不能者之形,何以异?’曰:‘挟太山以超北海,语人曰:‘我不能。’是诚不能也。为长者折枝,语人曰:‘我不能。’是不为也,非不能也。’
English translation
The king asked, ‘How can one tell unwillingness from inability?’ Mencius answered, ‘If someone says, “I cannot carry Mount Tai under my arm and leap across the northern sea,” that is genuine inability. If someone says, “I cannot perform a small service for an elder,” that is unwillingness, not inability.’
Original Chinese text
‘故王之不王,非挟太山以超北海之类也;王之不王,是折枝之类也。’
English translation
‘So your failure to rule as a true king is not like failing to carry Mount Tai across the sea. It is like declining that small service for an elder.’
Original Chinese text
‘老吾老,以及人之老;幼吾幼,以及人之幼;天下可运于掌。《诗》云:‘刑于寡妻,至于兄弟,以御于家邦。’言举斯心加诸彼而已。’
English translation
‘Honor your own elders, then extend that care to others' elders. Care for your own children, then extend it to others' children. Governing the realm would be as easy as turning something in your palm. The Odes say, “Set an example for one's wife, then for one's brothers, and so govern household and state.” It is simply a matter of extending a concern you already have.’
Original Chinese text
‘故推恩足以保四海,不推恩无以保妻子。古之人所以大过人者,无他焉,善推其所为而已矣。今恩足以及禽兽,而功不至于百姓者,独何与?’
English translation
‘Extend that concern and you can protect all within the four seas; fail to extend it and you cannot even protect your own family. People of old surpassed others for no other reason than that they were good at extending what they already practiced. Your concern reaches animals, yet the people do not benefit. Why?’
Original Chinese text
‘权,然后知轻重;度,然后知长短。物皆然,心为甚。王请度之。’
English translation
‘Only by weighing do we know how heavy a thing is; only by measuring do we know its length. That is true of objects, and still more of the heart. Your Majesty, weigh this in your own mind.’
Original Chinese text
‘抑王兴甲兵,危士臣,构怨于诸侯,然后快于心与?’王曰:‘否。吾何快于是?将以求吾所大欲也。’
English translation
Mencius asked, ‘Do you take pleasure in raising armies, putting your officers and soldiers in danger, and making enemies of other lords?’ The king said, ‘No. Why would I enjoy that? I do it to obtain what I most desire.’
Original Chinese text
曰:‘王之所大欲,可得闻与?’王笑而不言。曰:‘为肥甘不足于口与?轻暖不足于体与?抑为采色不足视于目与?声音不足听于耳与?便嬖不足使令于前与?王之诸臣,皆足以供之;而王岂为是哉?’
English translation
Mencius asked, ‘May I hear what you desire most?’ The king smiled but said nothing. Mencius continued, ‘Is it that you lack fine food, warm and light clothing, colors to look at, music to hear, or favored companions to attend you? Your ministers can provide all of these. Surely they are not why you go to war?’
Original Chinese text
曰:‘否。吾不为是也。’曰:‘然则王之大欲,可知已:欲辟土地,朝秦楚,莅中国而抚四夷也。以若所为,求若所欲,犹缘木而求鱼也。’
English translation
The king said, ‘No, that is not why.’ Mencius replied, ‘Then your great desire is clear: to enlarge your territory, make Qin and Chu pay court, rule over the central states, and bring the surrounding peoples under your sway. To seek that by your present course is like climbing a tree to catch fish.’
Original Chinese text
王曰:‘若是其甚与?’曰:‘殆有甚焉。缘木求鱼,虽不得鱼,无后灾;以若所为,求若所欲,尽心力而为之,后必有灾。’
English translation
The king asked, ‘Is it really that bad?’ Mencius answered, ‘It is worse. Climb a tree in search of fish and you may fail, but you will cause no later disaster. Pursue your ambition by your present means, giving it all your strength, and disaster will follow.’
Original Chinese text
曰:‘可得闻与?’曰:‘邹人与楚人战,则王以为孰胜?’曰:‘楚人胜。’
English translation
The king asked, ‘May I hear why?’ Mencius asked, ‘If the people of Zou fought the people of Chu, who would win?’ ‘Chu,’ the king replied.
Original Chinese text
曰:‘然则小固不可以敌大,寡固不可以敌众,弱固不可以敌强。海内之地,方千里者九,齐集有其一;以一服八,何以异于邹敌楚哉?盖亦反其本矣。’
English translation
Mencius said, ‘The small cannot overpower the large, the few the many, or the weak the strong. Think of the lands under heaven as nine regions, each a thousand li square: Qi holds only one. Trying to subdue the other eight with that one is no different from Zou fighting Chu. You must return to the root of the matter.’
Original Chinese text
‘今王发政施仁,使天下仕者皆欲立于王之朝,耕者皆欲耕于王之野,商贾皆欲藏于王之市,行旅皆欲出于王之途,天下之欲疾其君者皆欲赴愬于王。其若是,孰能御之?’
English translation
‘If you govern humanely now, people seeking office will want to serve at your court, farmers to work in your fields, merchants to store their wares in your markets, travelers to pass along your roads, and those aggrieved by their rulers to bring their complaints to you. If that happens, who could stop them from coming?’
Original Chinese text
王曰:‘吾惛,不能进于是矣。愿夫子辅吾志,明以教我。我虽不敏,请尝试之。’
English translation
The king said, ‘I am muddled and cannot follow this any further. Please help me find my way and explain it clearly. Though I am slow to understand, I would like to try.’
Original Chinese text
曰:‘无恒产而有恒心者,惟士为能。若民,则无恒产,因无恒心。苟无恒心,放辟邪侈,无不为已。’
English translation
Mencius said, ‘Only the educated can keep a steady moral purpose without a secure livelihood. Ordinary people, without a secure livelihood, cannot be expected to keep such steadiness. Once that purpose is lost, they may stop at nothing, straying into reckless and wrongful conduct.’
Original Chinese text
‘及陷于罪,然后从而刑之,是罔民也。焉有仁人在位,罔民而可为也?’
English translation
‘To punish them only after they have fallen into crime is to set a net for the people. How could a humane ruler in office do that?’
Original Chinese text
‘是故明君制民之产,必使仰足以事父母,俯足以畜妻子;乐岁终身饱,凶年免于死亡;然后驱而之善,故民之从之也轻。’
English translation
‘A wise ruler therefore secures a livelihood for the people: enough to support parents and to provide for a wife and children, enough to stay fed in good years and survive bad ones. Only then is it easy to guide them toward good conduct.’
Original Chinese text
‘今也制民之产,仰不足以事父母,俯不足以畜妻子;乐岁终身苦,凶年不免于死亡;此惟救死而恐不赡,奚暇治礼义哉?王欲行之,则盍反其本矣。’
English translation
‘As things stand, people's livelihoods do not support their parents or sustain their wives and children. Even in good years they suffer hardship throughout their lives, and in bad years they cannot escape death. When they can scarcely keep themselves alive, how can they attend to rites and right conduct? If Your Majesty wishes to act, why not return to this foundation?’
Original Chinese text
‘五亩之宅,树之以桑,五十者可以衣帛矣;鸡豚狗彘之畜,无失其时,七十者可以食肉矣;百亩之田,勿夺其时,八口之家可以无饥矣。’
English translation
‘Plant mulberry on a five-mu homestead, and people of fifty can wear silk. Raise chickens, piglets, dogs, and grown pigs at the proper times, and people of seventy can eat meat. Do not take away the seasons needed to farm a hundred-mu field, and a household of eight need not go hungry.’
Original Chinese text
‘谨庠序之教,申之以孝悌之义,颁白者不负戴于道路矣。老者衣帛食肉,黎民不饥不寒,然而不王者,未之有也。’
English translation
‘Give careful attention to local schools and teach respect for parents and elder siblings, so that gray-haired people need not carry loads along the roads. If the old wear silk and eat meat while ordinary people suffer neither hunger nor cold, there has never been a ruler who failed to achieve kingly rule.’