What Makes a Great Person
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
景春曰：“公孙衍、张仪岂不诚大丈夫哉？一怒而诸侯惧，安居而天下熄。”
English translation
Jing Chun said, “Are Gong Sun Yan and Zhang Yi not truly great men? When they become angry, the feudal lords are afraid; when they settle down, all under Heaven is at peace.”
Original Chinese text
孟子曰：“是焉得为大丈夫乎？子未学礼乎？丈夫之冠也，父命之；女子之嫁也，母命之，往送之门，戒之曰：‘往之女家，必敬必戒，无违夫子。’以顺为正者，妾妇之道也。居天下之广居，立天下之正位，行天下之大道；得志与民由之，不得志，独行其道；富贵不能淫，贫贱不能移，威武不能屈──此之谓大丈夫。”
English translation
Mencius said, “How could that make them great men? Have you not studied the rites? When a young man undergoes the cap ceremony, his father instructs him. When a young woman marries, her mother instructs her and sees her to the gate, saying, ‘When you reach your new home, be respectful and cautious; do not oppose your husband.’ To treat obedience as the highest standard is the way of a concubine. A great man dwells in the broadest dwelling under Heaven—benevolence; stands in the most proper position—ritual; and walks the broadest path—righteousness. When he achieves his purpose, he follows that path together with the people; when he does not, he walks it alone. Wealth and rank cannot corrupt him, poverty cannot make him change, and force cannot make him bend. This is what we call a great man.”