Welcoming Good Counsel
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English translation
Original Chinese text
鲁欲使乐正子为政。孟子曰:“吾闻之,喜而不寐。”公孙丑曰:“乐正子强乎?”曰:“否。”“有知虑乎?”曰:“否。”“多闻识乎?”曰:“否。”“然则奚为喜而不寐?”曰:“其为人也好善。”“好善足乎?”曰:“好善优于天下,而况鲁国乎?夫茍好善,则四海之内,皆将轻千里而来告之以善。夫茍不好善,则人将曰:‘𫍙𫍙,予既已知之矣。’𫍙𫍙之声音颜色,距人于千里之外。士止于千里之外,则谗谄面谀之人至矣。与谗谄面谀之人居,国欲治,可得乎?”
English translation
Lu wished to appoint Yuezhengzi to govern. Mencius said, “I heard the news and was so glad I could not sleep.” Gongsun Chou asked whether Yuezhengzi was capable; Mencius said no. Was he wise and far-sighted? No. Was he widely learned? No. “Then why are you so glad?” “Because he loves goodness.” “Is that enough?” Mencius replied, “A willingness to welcome good counsel is more than enough to govern the realm—how much more so the state of Lu? If someone truly loves goodness, people from across the seas will travel a thousand li to tell him what is good. If he does not, they will say, ‘Hmph, I already know that.’ This dismissive tone and expression will drive people away a thousand li. When worthy people stay far away, slanderers, flatterers, and sycophants arrive. Can a state be well governed while living with such people?”