Adversity and Renewal
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English translation
Original Chinese text
孟子曰:“舜发于畎亩之中,傅说举于版筑之间,胶鬲举于鱼盐之中,管夷吾举于士,孙叔敖举于海,百里奚举于市。故天将降大任于是人也,必先苦其心志,劳其筋骨,饿其体肤,空乏其身,行拂乱其所为;所以动心忍性,曾益其所不能。人恒过,然后能改。困于心,衡于虑,而后作。征于色,发于声,而后喻。入则无法家拂士、出则无敌国外患者,国恒亡。然后知生于忧患,而死于安乐也。”
English translation
Mencius said, “Shun was raised from the fields; Fu Yue from building work; Jiao Ge from trading in fish and salt; Guan Yiwu from the hands of prison officers; Sun Shuao from the seashore; and Baili Xi from the marketplace. When Heaven is about to entrust someone with a great task, it first afflicts his mind, tires his body, starves him, impoverishes him, and frustrates his efforts. In this way it rouses his heart, toughens his character, and adds capacities he lacked. People make mistakes before they can reform; distress in the heart and obstruction in thought lead them to rise to action; what appears in their faces and voices then becomes understood. A state without law-abiding ministers at home or hostile powers and external dangers abroad will often perish. From this we know that adversity sustains life, while ease and pleasure bring death.”