Blame Neither Heaven nor Others

Contents

Text

English translation

Original Chinese text

English translation

Mencius left Qi. Chong Yu asked him on the road: 'Master, you seem to have an unhappy expression. The other day I, Yu, heard from you, Master: “The noble man does not resent Heaven and does not blame others.”'

Original Chinese text

English translation

Mencius said: 'That was one time; this is another time. In five hundred years a true king must arise, and in between there must be one renowned to the age. Since the Zhou, more than seven hundred years have passed. By the number, it is already past; by examining the time, it is due. Heaven has not yet wished to bring peace and order to the world. If it wished to bring peace and order to the world, in this present age, who is there but me? Why should I be unhappy?'

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