Self-Inflicted Ruin
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English translation
Original Chinese text
孟子曰:“不仁者,可与言哉?安其危而利其葘,乐其所以亡者。不仁而可与言,则何亡国败家之有?有孺子歌曰:‘沧浪之水清兮,可以濯我缨;沧浪之水浊兮,可以濯我足。’孔子曰:‘小子听之!清斯濯缨,浊斯濯足矣,自取之也。’夫人必自侮,然后人侮之;家必自毁,而后人毁之;国必自伐,而后人伐之。《太甲》曰:‘天作孽,犹可违;自作孽,不可活’,此之谓也。”
English translation
Mencius said, “Can one reason with the unbenevolent? They are at ease with danger, profit from what harms them, and delight in what will bring their ruin. If they could be reasoned with despite their lack of benevolence, how could states fall and families be ruined? A child sang, ‘When the Canglang water is clear, I can wash my capstrings; when it is muddy, I can wash my feet.’ Confucius said, ‘Disciples, listen! If it is clear, wash your capstrings; if it is muddy, wash your feet. You bring it upon yourselves.’ A person must first insult himself before others insult him; a family must first destroy itself before others destroy it; a state must first invite attack before others attack it. The Taijia says, ‘A calamity sent by Heaven may still be escaped; one made by oneself leaves no way to live.’ That is what this means.”