On Meeting the Lords
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English translation
Original Chinese text
陈代曰：“不见诸侯，宜若小然。今一见之，大则以王，小则以霸。且《志》曰：‘枉尺而直寻。’宜若可为也。”
English translation
Chen Dai said, “Refusing to meet the rulers seems overly cautious. If you meet one just once, at the greatest you might help him establish royal rule; at the least, help him become hegemon. Besides, the Record says, ‘Bend one foot and you can straighten eight.’ It seems a reasonable compromise.”
Original Chinese text
孟子曰：“昔齐景公田，招虞人以旌，不至，将杀之。‘志士不忘在沟壑，勇士不忘丧其元。’孔子奚取焉？取非其招不往也。如不待其招而往，何哉？且夫枉尺而直寻者，以利言也。如以利，则枉寻直尺而利，亦可为与？昔者赵简子使王良与嬖奚乘，终日而不获一禽。嬖奚反命曰：‘天下之贱工也。’或以告王良，良曰：‘请复之。’强而后可，一朝而获十禽。嬖奚反命曰：‘天下之良工也。’简子曰：‘我使掌与女乘。’谓王良。良不可，曰：‘吾为之范，我驰驱，终日不获一；为之诡遇，一朝而获十。《诗》云：“不失其驰，舍矢如破。”我不贯与小人乘，请辞。’御者且羞与射者比。比而得禽兽，虽若丘陵，弗为也。如枉道而从彼，何也？且子过矣，枉己者，未有能直人者也。”
English translation
Mencius said, “Once Duke Jing of Qi went hunting and summoned the gamekeeper with a banner. The man did not come, because that was not the proper signal for him, and the duke was about to execute him. An old saying runs, ‘A principled man does not forget death in a ditch; a brave man does not forget the loss of his head.’ What did Confucius approve in that man? He approved that he would not go unless summoned in the proper way. Why go on one’s own before receiving the proper summons? The saying about bending one foot to straighten eight is an argument from profit. If profit alone is the rule, could one not bend eight feet and straighten one whenever it brought gain? Once Zhao Jianzi had Wang Liang drive for his favored attendant Bi Xi on a hunt. They caught no game all day. Bi Xi reported, ‘He is the worst driver under heaven.’ When Wang Liang heard this, he said, ‘Let me try again.’ Wang Liang pressed his request, and only then did Bi Xi agree; they caught ten animals in one morning. Bi Xi then reported, ‘He is the finest driver under heaven.’ Zhao Jianzi told Wang Liang to serve Bi Xi regularly. Wang Liang refused: ‘When I drove by the rules, we caught nothing all day; when I used crooked tactics to suit him, we caught ten in one morning. The Odes say, “Keep the chariot’s pace true, and the arrow strikes as if it breaks the target.” I am not accustomed to hunting with a petty man in that way; let me decline.’ A charioteer would be ashamed to collude with the archer. Even if collusion brought a hill of game, he would not do it. Why should I bend the Way to follow that man? You are mistaken: one who bends himself cannot make others upright.”