Teach Before Leading the People
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English translation
Original Chinese text
鲁欲使慎子为将军。孟子曰:“不教民而用之,谓之殃民,殃民者,不容于尧舜之世。一战胜齐,遂有南阳,然且不可。”慎子勃然不悦曰:“此则滑厘所不识也。”曰:“吾明告子,天子之地方千里;不千里,不足以待诸侯。诸侯之地方百里;不百里,不足以守宗庙之典籍。周公之封于鲁,为方百里也;地非不足,而俭于百里。太公之封于齐也,亦为方百里也;地非不足也,而俭于百里。今鲁方百里者五,子以为有王者作,则鲁在所损乎?在所益乎?徒取诸彼以与此,然且仁者不为,况于杀人以求之乎?君子之事君也,务引其君以当道,志于仁而已。”
English translation
Lu wanted to appoint Shenzi as a general. Mencius said, “To use the people in war without first teaching them is to bring disaster upon them; one who harms the people would not be tolerated in the age of Yao and Shun. Even if Lu defeated Qi in one battle and seized Nanyang, it would still be wrong.” Shenzi bristled: “That is something I, Huali, do not understand.” Mencius replied, “I will explain clearly. The Son of Heaven’s domain is a thousand li across; with less, he cannot receive the lords. A lord’s domain is one hundred li; with less, he cannot maintain the ancestral temples and their records. The Duke of Zhou’s fief in Lu was one hundred li—not because the land was insufficient, but because he limited himself to that amount. The Grand Duke’s fief in Qi was likewise one hundred li, though more land was available. Lu now has the equivalent of five hundred li. If a true king arose, should Lu be reduced or enlarged? To take from another and give to oneself is something a benevolent person would not do; how much less should one kill people to obtain it? A gentleman serving a ruler should guide him toward the right Way and remain committed to benevolence.”