Farming and Taxation
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
孟子曰:“易其田畴,薄其税敛,民可使富也。
English translation
Mencius said, “Improve the fields and reduce tax levies, and the people can become prosperous.”
Original Chinese text
食之以时,用之以礼,财不可胜用也。
English translation
“Take and consume food in its proper seasons, and use resources according to ritual; wealth will then be inexhaustible.”
Original Chinese text
民非水火不生活,昏暮叩人之门户,求水火,无弗与者,至足矣。
English translation
“People cannot live without water and fire. If someone knocks at a door at dusk or night asking for water or fire, no one refuses; that is what abundance looks like.”
Original Chinese text
圣人治天下,使有菽粟如水火。菽粟如水火,而民焉有不仁者乎?”
English translation
“A sage rules the realm so that beans and grain are as abundant as water and fire. When beans and grain are so plentiful, how could the people fail to be humane?”