Serving a Ruler with Sincerity
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
孟子曰:“有事君人者,事是君,则为容悦者也。
English translation
Mencius said, “Some make serving a ruler their sole concern; they serve that ruler simply to flatter him and win his favor.”
Original Chinese text
有安社稷臣者,以安社稷为悦者也。
English translation
“There are ministers whose purpose is to secure the state, and whose joy lies in its security.”
Original Chinese text
有天民者,达可行于天下而后行之者也。
English translation
“There are ‘tianmin’—people who fulfill the nature Heaven has endowed in humankind, and act only when their way can be put into practice throughout the realm.”
Original Chinese text
有大人者,正己而物正者也。”
English translation
“And there are great people who rectify themselves, and thereby all things are rectified.”