Residence and Nourishment
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
孟子自范之齐,望见齐王之子,喟然叹曰:“居移气,养移体,大哉居乎!夫非尽人之子与?”
English translation
As Mencius traveled from Fan to Qi, he saw the son of the King of Qi from a distance and sighed, “One’s position changes one’s bearing; one’s manner of living changes one’s body. How powerful a position is! Is he not, after all, someone’s son like everyone else?”
Original Chinese text
孟子曰:“王子宫室、车马、衣服多与人同,而王子若彼者,其居使之然也。况居天下之广居者乎?鲁君之宋,呼于垤泽之门。守者曰:‘此非吾君也,何其声之似我君也?’此无他,居相似也。”
English translation
Mencius said, “The prince’s palaces, carriages, horses, and clothing are mostly like those of others, yet he appears as he does because of the position he occupies. How much more so for one who dwells in the broadest abode under Heaven—benevolence. When the ruler of Lu went to Song, he called out at the gate of Dieze, a gate of the state of Song. The guard said, ‘That is not our ruler—why does his voice sound so like our ruler’s?’ There was no other reason: their positions were alike.”