Why Speak of Profit?
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English translation
Original Chinese text
宋牼将之楚,孟子遇于石丘,曰:“先生将何之?”曰:“吾闻秦、楚构兵,我将见楚王,说而罢之;楚王不悦,我将见秦王,说而罢之。二王我将有所遇焉。”曰:“轲也请无问其详,愿闻其指。说之将何如?”曰:“我将言其不利也。”
English translation
Song Keng was on his way to Chu when Mencius met him at Shiqiu and asked, “Where are you going, sir?” Song replied, “I hear Qin and Chu are preparing for war. I will see the king of Chu and persuade him to stop; if he is not persuaded, I will see the king of Qin and persuade him. I expect to succeed with one of them.” Mencius said, “I will not ask for the details; I would like to hear your main point. How will you persuade them?” Song said, “I will tell them that war is disadvantageous.”
Original Chinese text
曰:“先生之志则大矣,先生之号则不可。先生以利说秦、楚之王,秦、楚之王悦于利,以罢三军之师;是三军之士乐罢而悦于利也。为人臣者,怀利以事其君,为人子者,怀利以事其父,为人弟者,怀利以事其兄,是君臣、父子、兄弟终去仁义,怀利以相接;然而不亡者,未之有也。先生以仁义说秦、楚之王,秦、楚之王悦于仁义,以罢三军之师;是三军之士乐罢而悦于仁义也。为人臣者,怀仁义以事其君,为人子者,怀仁义以事其父,为人弟者,怀仁义以事其兄,是君臣、父子、兄弟去利,怀仁义以相接也;然而不王者,未之有也。何必曰利?”
English translation
Mencius said, “Your purpose is lofty, but your way of presenting it is wrong. If you appeal to the rulers of Qin and Chu through profit, they may end the war for profit, and the soldiers will rejoice for the same reason. Ministers, sons, and younger brothers will then serve rulers, fathers, and elder brothers with profit in mind. Rulers and subjects, fathers and sons, and elder and younger brothers will abandon benevolence and righteousness and deal with one another for gain; no state has avoided ruin under such conditions. If instead you appeal to them through benevolence and righteousness, they may end the war for those values, and the soldiers will welcome them too. Ministers, sons, and younger brothers will serve their rulers, fathers, and elder brothers with benevolence and righteousness; these relationships will set profit aside and be guided by what is right. No one has failed to establish a true royal order this way. Why begin by speaking of profit?”