Leaving Qi and Accepting a Salary
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
孟子去齐,尹士语人曰:「不识王之不可以为汤、武,则是不明也;识其不可然且至,则是干泽也。千里而见王,不遇故去;三宿而后出昼,是何濡滞也!士则兹不悦。」
English translation
Mencius left Qi. Yin Shi said to people: 'If he did not know that the king could not become a Tang or Wu, then he was unwise; if he knew it was impossible and still came, then he was seeking favor. He came a thousand li to see the king; not finding acceptance, he left; he stayed three nights before leaving Zhou. Why such delay? I, Shi, am not pleased with this.'
Original Chinese text
高子以告。
English translation
Gaozi reported it to Mencius.
Original Chinese text
曰:「夫尹士恶知予哉?千里而见王,是予所欲也。不遇故去,岂予所欲哉?予不得已也。予三宿而出昼,于予心犹以为速。王庶几改之!王如改诸,则必反予。夫出昼而王不予追也,予然后浩然有归志。予虽然,岂舍王哉?王由足用为善;王如用予,则岂徒齐民安?天下之民举安。王庶几改之!予日望之!予岂若是小丈夫然哉!谏于其君而不受,则怒,悻悻然见于其面,去则穷日之力而后宿哉?」
English translation
Mencius said: 'How could Yin Shi understand me? To go a thousand li to see the king was what I desired. Not to meet with acceptance and therefore to leave—was that what I desired? I could not help it. I stayed three nights before leaving Zhou, and in my heart I still thought it was too quick. The king might perhaps change! If the king changed it, he would surely recall me. When I left Zhou and the king did not pursue me, only then did I resolutely have the intention to return home. Even so, could I abandon the king? The king is still capable of doing good; if the king employed me, would only the people of Qi be at peace? All the people of the world would be at peace. The king might perhaps change! I hoped for it every day. How could I be like such a petty man? When he remonstrates with his ruler and is not accepted, he becomes angry, shows a resentful look on his face, and when he leaves he exhausts the strength of the whole day before he stops for the night.'
Original Chinese text
尹士闻之,曰:「士诚小人也。」
English translation
Yin Shi heard this and said: 'I, Shi, am truly a petty man.'