Different Paths to Benevolence

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English translation

Original Chinese text

English translation

Chunyu Kun said, “Putting reputation and actual achievements first is for others; putting them last is for oneself. You held one of the three highest offices, yet left before your reputation and achievements benefited those above or below you. Is that really how a benevolent person acts?” Mencius replied, “To remain in a low position and refuse to serve an unworthy ruler despite one’s own worth—that was Bo Yi. To go five times to Tang and five times to Jie—that was Yi Yin. Not to disdain a corrupt ruler and not to refuse a minor office—that was Liu Xiahui. Their ways differed, but their aim was one. What was it? Benevolence. A gentleman need only be benevolent; why must everyone act alike?”

Original Chinese text

English translation

Chunyu Kun said, “Under Duke Mu of Lu, Gong Yizi governed, and Ziliu and Zisi served as ministers, yet Lu’s territory kept shrinking. Are worthy men really of no benefit to a state?” Mencius replied, “Yu perished because it did not employ Baili Xi; Qin’s Duke Mu employed him and became a hegemon. A state that fails to employ the worthy will perish—what is a loss of territory compared with that?”

Original Chinese text

English translation

Chunyu Kun said, “When Wang Bao lived by the Qi, people west of the river became skilled singers. When Mian Ju lived at Gaotang, people in western Qi became good singers. The wives of Hua Zhou and Qi Liang were skilled at mourning their husbands, and changed local customs. What is within must show outwardly. I have never seen someone do something without producing its effect. Therefore I think there are no worthy men; if there were, I would surely recognize them.” Mencius replied, “When Confucius served as minister of justice in Lu, his counsel was not adopted. He attended a sacrifice, but the sacrificial meat was not delivered; he left without waiting to remove his ceremonial cap. Those who did not understand thought he left over the meat; those who did understood he left because of discourtesy. Confucius wished to depart on a minor pretext, not to leave arbitrarily. The actions of a gentleman are not readily understood by ordinary people.”

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