Blame Neither Heaven nor Others
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
孟子去齐,充虞路问曰:「夫子若有不豫色然。前日虞闻诸夫子曰:『君子不怨天,不尤人。』」
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
曰:「彼一时,此一时也。五百年必有王者兴,其间必有名世者。由周而来,七百有馀岁矣;以其数则过矣,以其时考之则可矣。夫天,未欲平治天下也,如欲平治天下,当今之世,舍我其谁也?吾何为不豫哉?」
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?'