Mencius Resigns and Returns Home

Contents

Text

English translation

Original Chinese text

English translation

Mencius resigned his position as a minister and returned.

Original Chinese text

English translation

The king came to see Mencius and said, “Earlier I wished to see you but could not; being able to serve in the same court, I was very pleased. Now you again abandon me, the lone man, and return. I do not know whether after this I may continue to see you?”

Original Chinese text

English translation

He replied, “I did not dare to ask; that is all. It was indeed what I wished.”

Original Chinese text

English translation

Another day the king said to Shi Zi, 'I want to give Mencius a house within the state and support his disciples with ten thousand zhong, so that all the great officers and the people of the state may have something to respect and emulate. Why do you not speak to him for me?'

Original Chinese text

English translation

Shi Zi, through Chen Zi, reported it to Mencius; Chen Zi told Mencius what Shi Zi had said.

Original Chinese text

English translation

Mencius said, “Exactly. How could Shi Zi know that this cannot be done? If I sought wealth, would it make sense to refuse a stipend of one hundred thousand zhong but accept ten thousand? Ji Sun said, ‘How strange Zi Shu Yi was! He governed; when he was not appointed, that should have been the end of it. Yet he also had his sons and younger brothers made ministers. Who does not desire wealth and honor? But he sought a private advantage within wealth and office, appropriating the benefit for himself.’ In ancient times, people exchanged what they had for what they lacked, while officials merely administered the market. One lowly man insisted on climbing a raised mound to look around and corner the gains from trade. People despised him for monopolizing those gains, so they taxed him. The levy on merchants began with this lowly man.”

Feedback