What Comes from You Returns to You
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
邹与鲁哄。穆公问曰:‘吾有司死者三十三人,而民莫之死也。诛之,则不可胜诛;不诛,则疾视其长上之死而不救,如之何则可也?’
English translation
Zou and Lu clashed. Duke Mu of Zou asked, ‘Thirty-three of my officers died, but none of the people died defending them. There are too many to punish; yet if I do not punish them, I let them watch resentfully as their superiors die without helping. What can I do?’
Original Chinese text
孟子对曰:‘凶年饥岁,君之民老弱转乎沟壑,壮者散而之四方者,几千人矣;而君之仓廪实,府库充,有司莫以告,是上慢而残下也。’
English translation
Mencius answered, ‘In years of famine, your old and weak have starved to death in the ditches, and several thousand able-bodied people have fled in all directions. Yet your granaries and treasuries are full, and your officers did not tell you. Those above neglected and harmed those below.’
Original Chinese text
‘曾子曰:“戒之戒之!出乎尔者,反乎尔者也。”夫民今而后得反之也。君无尤焉!’
English translation
‘Zengzi said, “Take heed: what goes out from you comes back to you.” The people are now returning the treatment they received. Do not blame them.’
Original Chinese text
‘君行仁政,斯民亲其上,死其长矣。’
English translation
‘If you govern benevolently, the people will feel close to those above them and will risk their lives for their leaders.’