Benevolence and Its Consequences
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
孟子曰:“不仁哉,梁惠王也!仁者,以其所爱及其所不爱;不仁者,以其所不爱及其所爱。”
English translation
Mencius exclaimed that King Hui of Liang was not humane. A humane ruler extends care from those close to him to those farther away. An inhumane ruler first imposes harmful policies on those he does not favor, and the resulting harm eventually reaches those he does favor as well.
Original Chinese text
公孙丑问曰:“何谓也?”
English translation
Gongsun Chou asked, “What do you mean by that?”
Original Chinese text
“梁惠王以土地之故,糜烂其民而战之,大败;将复之,恐不能胜,故驱其所爱子弟以殉之;是之谓以其所不爱及其所爱也。”
English translation
Mencius explained that King Hui had sent his people to fight over territory, leaving them devastated and suffering a major defeat. Wanting to fight again but fearing he could not win, he then drove the young members of his own favored royal family into battle to die. Thus he first exposed those he did not cherish to death, and eventually did the same to those he loved.