A Worthy Person Cannot Be Summoned Without Proper Courtesy
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
万章曰:“敢问不见诸侯,何义也?”
English translation
Wan Zhang asked, “May I ask the principle behind not seeking an audience with a feudal lord?”
Original Chinese text
孟子曰:“在国曰市井之臣,在野曰草莽之臣,皆谓庶人。庶人不传质为臣,不敢见于诸侯,礼也。”
English translation
Mencius said, “Those in the city are called market subjects, and those in the countryside are called rustic subjects; both are commoners. A commoner who has not formally presented a pledge and become a minister should not presume to seek an audience with a lord. That is proper ritual.”
Original Chinese text
万章曰:“庶人,召之役,则往役;君欲见之,召之,则不往见之,何也?”曰:“往役,义也;往见,不义也。且君之欲见之也,何为也哉?”
English translation
Wan Zhang asked, “A commoner goes when summoned for labor, yet will not go when a ruler summons him for an audience. Why?” Mencius replied, “Going to perform labor is an obligation; going to an audience is not. Besides, why does the ruler wish to see him?”
Original Chinese text
曰:“为其多闻也,为其贤也。”曰:“为其多闻也,则天子不召师,而况诸侯乎?为其贤也,则吾未闻欲见贤而召之也。
English translation
Wan Zhang said, “Because he is learned and worthy.” Mencius replied, “If it is because he is learned, even the Son of Heaven does not summon his teacher, much less a feudal lord. If it is because he is worthy, I have never heard of someone who truly wishes to meet a worthy person summoning him like a subordinate.”
Original Chinese text
缪公亟见于子思,曰:“古千乘之国以友士,何如?”子思不悦,曰:“古之人有言曰:‘事之云乎’,岂曰‘友之云乎?’
English translation
Duke Mu of Lu repeatedly visited Zisi and asked, “The ancients said that a state with a thousand chariots should befriend scholars. What do you think?” Zisi was displeased: “The ancients spoke of serving them; did they say befriending them?”
Original Chinese text
子思之不悦也,岂不曰:“以位,则子,君也,我,臣也,何敢与君友也?以德,则子事我者也,奚可以与我友?’千乘之君求与之友,而不可得也,而况可召与?
English translation
Was Zisi not displeased because he thought: “In rank, you are the ruler and I your subject—how could I presume to be your friend? In virtue, you should serve me; how could you be my friend?” If a ruler of a thousand-chariot state cannot obtain a worthy person’s friendship, how much less can he summon him?
Original Chinese text
齐景公田,招虞人以旌;不至,将杀之。
English translation
When Duke Jing of Qi went hunting, he summoned a forest keeper with the banner used for a senior minister. The keeper did not come, and the duke was about to kill him.
Original Chinese text
“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。”
English translation
“A principled person never forgets that he may end up dead in a ravine; a brave person never forgets that he may lose his head.” What did Confucius approve of here? He approved that the man did not go when summoned improperly.”
Original Chinese text
曰:“敢问招虞人何以?”曰:“以皮冠。庶人以旃,士以旗,大夫以旌。
English translation
Wan Zhang asked, “What token should be used to summon a forest keeper?” Mencius replied, “A leather cap. A pennant is used for commoners, a banner for gentlemen, and a tall standard for senior ministers.”
Original Chinese text
以大夫之招招虞人,虞人死不敢往;以士之招招庶人,庶人岂敢往哉?况乎以不贤人之招招贤人乎?
English translation
If a forest keeper is summoned by the manner proper to a senior minister, he would rather die than go. If a commoner is summoned by the manner proper to a gentleman, how could he go? How much less should a worthy person be summoned in the manner used for an unworthy one?
Original Chinese text
欲见贤人而不以其道,犹欲其入而闭之门也。夫义,路也;礼,门也。惟君子能由是路,出入是门也。
English translation
To wish to meet a worthy person without following the proper way is like wishing him to enter while shutting the door. Righteousness is the road and ritual is the gate; only a gentleman can travel this road and pass through this gate.
Original Chinese text
《诗》云:“周道如底,其直如矢;君子所履,小人所视。”
English translation
The Book of Songs says, “The great road is level as a whetstone and straight as an arrow; it is the path gentlemen tread and the common people look to.”
Original Chinese text
万章曰:“孔子‘君命召,不俟驾而行’。然则孔子非与?”曰:“孔子当仕有官职,而以其官召之也。”
English translation
Wan Zhang asked, “Confucius said, ‘When summoned by the ruler, I set out without waiting for the carriage to be harnessed.’ Was Confucius then in the wrong?” Mencius replied, “Confucius held office at the time; he was summoned in his official capacity.”