Mencius
梁惠王上 Book 1A · Liáng Huì Wáng shàng
孟子見梁惠王。王曰：「叟，不遠千里而來，亦將有以利吾國乎？」孟子對曰：「王何必曰利？亦有而已矣。王曰『何以利吾國』？大夫曰『何以利吾家』？士庶人曰『何以利吾身』？上下交征利而國危矣。萬乘之國弒其君者，必千乘之家；千乘之國弒其君者，必百乘之家。萬取千焉，千取百焉，不為不多矣。苟為後而先利，不奪不饜。未有而遺其親者也，未有而後其君者也。王亦曰而已矣，何必曰利？」
Mencius went to see king Hui of Liang. The king said, 'Venerable sir, since you have not counted it far to come here, a distance of a thousand li, may I presume that you are provided with counsels to profit my kingdom?'
Mencius replied, 'Why must your Majesty use that word "profit?" What I am provided with, are counsels to benevolence and righteousness, and these are my only topics. 'If your Majesty say, "What is to be done to profit my kingdom?" the great officers will say, "What is to be done to profit our families?" and the inferior officers and the common people will say, "What is to be done to profit our persons?" Superiors and inferiors will try to snatch this profit the one from the other, and the kingdom will be endangered. In the kingdom of ten thousand chariots, the murderer of his sovereign shall be the chief of a family of a thousand chariots. In the kingdom of a thousand chariots, the murderer of his prince shall be the chief of a family of a hundred chariots. To have a thousand in ten thousand, and a hundred in a thousand, cannot be said not to be a large allotment, but if righteousness be put last, and profit be put first, they will not be satisfied without snatching all. There never has been a benevolent man who neglected his parents. There never has been a righteous man who made his sovereign an after consideration. Let your Majesty also say, "Benevolence and righteousness, and let these be your only themes." Why must you use that word - "profit?".'
注 Zhu Xi 孟子集注
孟子見梁惠王。 梁惠王，魏侯罃也。都大梁，僭稱王，溢曰惠。《史記》：「惠王三十五年，卑禮厚幣以招賢者，而孟軻至梁。」
王曰：「叟，不遠千里而來，亦將有以利吾國乎？」 叟，長老之稱。王所謂利，蓋富國強兵之類。
孟子對曰：「王何必曰利？亦有仁義而已矣。 仁者，心之德、愛之理。義者，心之制、事之宜也。此二句乃一章之大指，下文乃詳言之。後多放此。
王曰『何以利吾國』？大夫曰『何以利吾家』？士庶人曰『何以利吾身』？上下交征利而國危矣。萬乘之國弒其君者，必千乘之家；千乘之國弒其君者，必百乘之家。萬取千焉，千取百焉，不為不多矣。苟為後義而先利，不奪不饜。 乘，去聲。饜，於艷反。○此言求利之害，以明上文何必曰利之意也。征，取也。上取乎下，下取乎上，故曰交征。國危，謂將有弒奪之禍。乘，車數也。萬乘之國者，天子畿內地方千里，出車萬乘。千乘之家者，天子之公卿采地方百里，出車千乘也。千乘之國，諸侯之國。百乘之家，諸侯之大夫也。弒，下殺上也。饜，足也。言臣之於君，每十分而取其一分，亦已多矣。若又以義為後而以利為先，則不弒其君而盡奪之，其心未肯以為足也。
未有仁而遺其親者也，未有義而後其君者也。 此言仁義未嘗不利，以明上文亦有仁義而已之意也。遺，猶棄也。後，不急也。言仁者必愛其親，義者必急其君。故人君躬行仁義而無求利之心，則其下化之，自親戴於己也。
王亦曰仁義而已矣，何必曰利？」 重言之，以結上文兩節之意。○此章言仁義根於人心之固有，天理之公也。利心生於物我之相形，人欲之私也。循天理，則不求利而自無不利；殉人欲，則求利未得而害已隨之。所謂毫釐之差，千里之繆。此《孟子》之書所以造端托始之深意，學者所宜精察而明辨也。○太史公曰：「余讀《孟子》書至梁惠王問何以利吾國，未嘗不廢書而歎也。曰嗟乎！利誠亂之始也。夫子罕言利，常防其源也。故曰『放於利而行，多怨』。自天子以至於庶人，好利之弊，何以異哉？」程子曰：「君子未嘗不欲利，但專以利為心則有害。惟仁義則不求利而未嘗不利也。當是之時，天下之人惟利是求，而不復知有仁義。故孟子言仁義而不言利，所以拔本塞源而救其弊，此聖賢之心也。」
孟子見梁惠王，王立於沼上，顧鴻鴈麋鹿，曰：「賢者亦樂此乎？」孟子對曰：「賢者而後樂此，不賢者雖有此，不樂也。《詩》云：『經始靈臺，經之營之，庶民攻之，不日成之。經始勿亟，庶民子來。王在靈囿，麀鹿攸伏，麀鹿濯濯，白鳥鶴鶴。王在靈沼，於牣魚躍。』文王以民力為臺為沼。而民歡樂之，謂其臺曰靈臺，謂其沼曰靈沼，樂其有麋鹿魚鱉。古之人與民偕樂，故能樂也。《湯誓》曰：『時日害喪？予及女偕亡。』民欲與之偕亡，雖有臺池鳥獸，豈能獨樂哉？」
Mencius, another day, saw King Hui of Liang. The king went and stood with him by a pond, and, looking round at the large geese and deer, said, 'Do wise and good princes also find pleasure in these things?'
Mencius replied, 'Being wise and good, they have pleasure in these things. If they are not wise and good, though they have these things, they do not find pleasure. It is said in the Book of Poetry, "He measured out and commenced his marvellous tower; He measured it out and planned it. The people addressed themselves to it, And in less than a day completed it. When he measured and began it, he said to them - Be not so earnest: But the multitudes came as if they had been his children. The king was in his marvellous park; The does reposed about, The does so sleek and fat: And the white birds came glistening. The king was by his marvellous pond; How full was it of fishes leaping about!" King Wen used the strength of the people to make his tower and his pond, and yet the people rejoiced to do the work, calling the tower "the marvellous tower," calling the pond "the marvellous pond," and rejoicing that he had his large deer, his fishes, and turtles. The ancients caused the people to have pleasure as well as themselves, and therefore they could enjoy it. In the Declaration of Tang it is said, "O sun, when wilt thou expire? We will die together with thee." The people wished for Jie's death, though they should die with him. Although he had towers, ponds, birds, and animals, how could he have pleasure alone?'
注 Zhu Xi 孟子集注
孟子見梁惠王，王立於沼上，顧鴻鴈麋鹿，曰：「賢者亦樂此乎？」 樂，音洛，篇內同。○沼，池也。鴻，鴈之大者。麋，鹿之大者。
孟子對曰：「賢者而後樂此，不賢者雖有此，不樂也。 此一章之大指。
《詩》云：『經始靈臺，經之營之，庶民攻之，不日成之。經始勿亟，庶民子來。王在靈囿，麀鹿攸伏，麀鹿濯濯，白鳥鶴鶴。王在靈沼，於牣魚躍。』文王以民力為臺為沼。而民歡樂之，謂其臺曰靈臺，謂其沼曰靈沼，樂其有麋鹿魚鱉。古之人與民偕樂，故能樂也。 亟，音棘。麀，音憂。鶴，詩作翯，戶角反。於，音烏。○此引《詩》而釋之，以明賢者而後樂此之意。《詩》《大雅》《靈臺》之篇，經，量度也。靈臺，文王臺名也。營，謀為也。攻，治也。不日，不終日也。亟，速也，言文王戒以勿亟也。子來，如子來趨父事也。靈囿、靈沼，臺下有囿，囿中有沼也。麀，牝鹿也。伏，安其所，不驚動也。濯濯，肥澤貌。鶴鶴，潔白貌。於，歎美辭。牣，滿也。孟子言文王雖用民力，而民反歡樂之，既加以美名，而又樂其所有。蓋由文王能愛其民，故民樂其樂，而文王亦得以享其樂也。
《湯誓》曰：『時日害喪？予及女偕亡。』民欲與之偕亡，雖有臺池鳥獸，豈能獨樂哉？」 害，音曷。喪，去聲。女，音汝。○此引《書》而釋之，以明不賢者雖有此不樂之意也。湯誓，商書篇名。時，是也。日，指夏桀。害，何也。桀嘗自言，吾有天下，如天之有日，日亡吾乃亡耳。民怨其虐，故因其自言而目之曰，此日何時亡乎？若亡則我寧與之俱亡，蓋欲其亡之甚也。孟子引此，以明君獨樂而不恤其民，則民怨之而不能保其樂也。
梁惠王曰：「寡人之於國也，盡心焉耳矣。河內兇，則移其民於河東，移其粟於河內。河東兇亦然。察鄰國之政，無如寡人之用心者。鄰國之民不加少，寡人之民不加多，何也？」孟子對曰：「王好戰，請以戰喻。填然鼓之，兵刃既接，棄甲曳兵而走。或百步而後止，或五十步而後止。以五十步笑百步，則何如？」曰：「不可，直不百步耳，是亦走也。」曰：「王如知此，則無望民之多於鄰國也。不違農時，穀不可勝食也；數罟不入洿池，魚鱉不可勝食也；斧斤以時入山林，材木不可勝用也。穀與魚鱉不可勝食，材木不可勝用，是使民養生喪死無憾也。養生喪死無憾，王道之始也。五畝之宅，樹之以桑，五十者可以衣帛矣；雞豚狗彘之畜，無失其時，七十者可以食肉矣；百畝之田，勿奪其時，數口之家可以無飢矣；謹庠序之教，申之以悌之，頒白者不負戴於道路矣。七十者衣帛食肉，黎民不飢不寒，然而不王者，未之有也。狗彘食人食而不知檢，塗有餓莩而不知發；人死，則曰：『非我也，歲也。』是何異於刺人而殺之，曰：『非我也，兵也。』王無罪歲，斯天下之民至焉。」
King Hui of Liang said, 'Small as my virtue is, in the government of my kingdom, I do indeed exert my mind to the utmost. If the year be bad on the inside of the river, I remove as many of the people as I can to the east of the river, and convey grain to the country in the inside. When the year is bad on the east of the river, I act on the same plan. On examining the government of the neighboring kingdoms, I do not find that there is any prince who exerts his mind as I do. And yet the people of the neighboring kingdoms do not decrease, nor do my people increase. How is this?'
Mencius replied, 'Your majesty is fond of war - let me take an illustration from war. The soldiers move forward to the sound of the drums; and after their weapons have been crossed, on one side they throw away their coats of mail, trail their arms behind them, and run. Some run a hundred paces and stop; some run fifty paces and stop. What would you think if those who run fifty paces were to laugh at those who run a hundred paces?'
The king said, 'They should not do so. Though they did not run a hundred paces, yet they also ran away.'
'Since your Majesty knows this,' replied Mencius, 'you need not hope that your people will become more numerous than those of the neighboring kingdoms. If the seasons of husbandry be not interfered with, the grain will be more than can be eaten. If close nets are not allowed to enter the pools and ponds, the fishes and turtles will be more than can be consumed. If the axes and bills enter the hills and forests only at the proper time, the wood will be more than can be used. When the grain and fish and turtles are more than can be eaten, and there is more wood than can be used, this enables the people to nourish their living and mourn for their dead, without any feeling against any. This condition, in which the people nourish their living and bury their dead without any feeling against any, is the first step of royal government. Let mulberry trees be planted about the homesteads with their five mu, and persons of fifty years may be clothed with silk. In keeping fowls, pigs, dogs, and swine, let not their times of breeding be neglected, and persons of seventy years may eat flesh. Let there not be taken away the time that is proper for the cultivation of the farm with its hundred mu, and the family of several mouths that is supported by it shall not suffer from hunger. Let careful attention be paid to education in schools, inculcating in it especially the filial and fraternal duties, and grey-haired men will not be seen upon the roads, carrying burdens on their backs or on their heads. It never has been that the ruler of a State, where such results were seen - persons of seventy wearing silk and eating flesh, and the black-haired people suffering neither from hunger nor cold - did not attain to the royal dignity.'
'Your dogs and swine eat the food of men, and you do not make any restrictive arrangements. There are people dying from famine on the roads, and you do not issue the stores of your granaries for them. When people die, you say, "It is not owing to me; it is owing to the year." In what does this differ from stabbing a man and killing him, and then saying - "It was not I; it was the weapon?" Let your Majesty cease to lay the blame on the year, and instantly from all the nation the people will come to you.'
The king said, 'There is no difference!'
'There is no difference,' was the reply.
注 Zhu Xi 孟子集注
梁惠王曰：「寡人之於國也，盡心焉耳矣。河內兇，則移其民於河東，移其粟於河內。河東兇亦然。察鄰國之政，無如寡人之用心者。鄰國之民不加少，寡人之民不加多，何也？」 寡人，諸侯自稱，言寡德之人也。河內、河東皆魏地。兇，歲不熟也。移民以就食，移粟以給其老稚之不能移者。
孟子對曰：「王好戰，請以戰喻。填然鼓之，兵刃既接，棄甲曳兵而走。或百步而後止，或五十步而後止。以五十步笑百步，則何如？」曰：「不可，直不百步耳，是亦走也。」曰：「王如知此，則無望民之多於鄰國也。 好，去聲。填，音田。○填，鼓音也。兵以鼓進，以金退。直，猶但也。言此以譬鄰國不恤其民，惠王能行小惠，然皆不能行王道以養其民，不可以此而笑彼也。楊氏曰：「移民移粟，荒政之所不廢也。然不能行先王之道，而徒以是為盡心焉，則末矣。」
不違農時，穀不可勝食也；數罟不入洿池，魚鱉不可勝食也；斧斤以時入山林，材木不可勝用也。穀與魚鱉不可勝食，材木不可勝用，是使民養生喪死無憾也。養生喪死無憾，王道之始也。 勝，音升。數，音促。罟，音古。洿，音烏。○農時，謂春耕夏耘秋收之時。凡有興作，不違此時，至冬乃役之也。不可勝食，言多也。數，密也。罟，網也。洿，窊下之地，水所聚也。古者網罟必用四寸之目，魚不滿尺，市不得粥，人不得食。山林川澤，與民共之，而有厲禁。草木零落，然後斧斤入焉。此皆為治之初，法制未備，且因天地自然之利，而撙節愛養之事也。然飲食宮室所以養生，祭祀棺槨所以送死，皆民所急而不可無者。今皆有以資之，則人無所恨矣。王道以得民心為本，故以此為王道之始。
五畝之宅，樹之以桑，五十者可以衣帛矣；雞豚狗彘之畜，無失其時，七十者可以食肉矣；百畝之田，勿奪其時，數口之家可以無飢矣；謹庠序之教，申之以孝悌之義，頒白者不負戴於道路矣。七十者衣帛食肉，黎民不飢不寒，然而不王者，未之有也。 衣，去聲。畜，敕六反。數，去聲。王，去聲。凡有天下者人稱之曰王，則平聲；據其身臨天下而言曰王，則去聲。○後皆放此。五畝之宅，一夫所受，二畝半在田，二畝半在邑。田中不得有木，恐妨五穀，故於牆下植桑以供蠶事。五十始衰，非帛不暖，未五十者不得衣也。畜，養也。時，謂孕子之時，如孟春犧性毋用牝之類也。七十非肉不飽，未七十者不得食也。百畝之田，亦一夫所受。至此則經界正，井地均，無不受田之家矣。庠序，皆學名也。申，重也，丁寧反覆之意。善事父母為孝，善事兄長為悌。頒，與斑同，老人頭半白黑者也。負，任在背。戴，任在首。夫民衣食不足，則不暇治禮義；而飽暖無教，則又近於禽獸。故既富而教以孝悌，則人知愛親敬長而代其勞，不使之負戴於道路矣。衣帛食肉但言七十，舉重以見輕也。黎，黑也。黎民，黑髮之人，猶秦言黔首也。少壯之人，雖不得衣帛食肉，然亦不至於寒也。此言盡法製品節之詳，極財成輔相之道，以左右民，是王道之成也。
狗彘食人食而不知檢，塗有餓莩而不知發；人死，則曰：『非我也，歲也。』是何異於刺人而殺之，曰：『非我也，兵也。』王無罪歲，斯天下之民至焉。」 莩，平表反。刺，七亦反。○檢，制也。莩，餓死人也。發，發倉廩以賑貸也。歲，謂歲之豐兇也。惠王不能制民之產，又使狗彘得以食人之食，則與先王制度品節之意異矣。至於民饑而死，猶不知發，則其所移特民間之粟而已。乃以民不加多，歸罪於歲兇，是知刃之殺人，而不知操刃者之殺人也。不罪歲，則必能自反而益修其政。天下之民至焉，則不但多於鄰國而已。○程子曰：「孟子之論王道，不過如此，可謂實矣。」又曰：「孔子之時，周室雖微，天下猶知尊周之為義，故春秋以尊周為本。至孟子時，七國爭雄，天下不復知有周，而生民之塗炭已極。當是時，諸侯能行王道，則可以王矣。此孟子所以勸齊梁之君也。蓋王者，天下之義主也。聖賢亦何心哉？視天命之改與未改耳。」
梁惠王曰：「寡人願安承教。」孟子對曰：「殺人以梃與刃，有以異乎？」曰：「無以異也。」「以刃與政，有以異乎？」曰：「無以異也。」曰：「庖有肥肉，廄有肥馬，民有饑色，野有餓莩，此率獸而食人也。獸相食，且人惡之。為民父母，行政不免於率獸而食人。惡在其為民父母也？仲尼曰：『始作俑者，其無後乎！』為其像人而用之也。如之何其使斯民饑而死也？」
King Hui of Liang said, 'I wish quietly to receive your instructions.'
Mencius replied, 'Is there any difference between killing a man with a stick and with a sword ?'
'Is there any difference between doing it with a sword and with the style of government?'
Mencius then said, 'In your kitchen there is fat meat; in your stables there are fat horses. But your people have the look of hunger, and on the wilds there are those who have died of famine. This is leading on beasts to devour men. Beasts devour one another, and men hate them for doing so. When a prince, being the parent of his people, administers his government so as to be chargeable with leading on beasts to devour men, where is his parental relation to the people? Zhong Ni said, "Was he not without posterity who first made wooden images to bury with the dead?" So he said, because that man made the semblances of men, and used them for that purpose - what shall be thought of him who causes his people to die of hunger?'
注 Zhu Xi 孟子集注
梁惠王曰：「寡人願安承教。」 承上章言願安意以受教。
孟子對曰：「殺人以梃與刃，有以異乎？」曰：「無以異也。」 梃，徒頂反。梃，杖也。
「以刃與政，有以異乎？」曰：「無以異也。」 孟子又問而王答也。
曰：「庖有肥肉，廄有肥馬，民有饑色，野有餓莩，此率獸而食人也。 厚斂於民以養禽獸，而使民饑以死，則無異於驅獸以食人矣。
獸相食，且人惡之。為民父母，行政不免於率獸而食人。惡在其為民父母也？ 惡之之惡，去聲。惡在之惡，平聲。君者，民之父母也。惡在，猶言何在也。
仲尼曰：『始作俑者，其無後乎！』為其像人而用之也。如之何其使斯民饑而死也？」 俑，音勇。為，去聲。俑，從葬木偶人也。古之葬者，束草為人以為從衛，謂之芻靈，略似人形而已。中古易之以俑，則有面目機發，而大似人矣。故孔子惡其不仁，而言其必無後也。孟子言此作俑者，但用像人以葬，孔子猶惡之，況實使民饑而死乎？李氏曰：「為人君者，固未嘗有率獸食人之心。然殉一己之欲，而不恤其民，則其流必至於此。故以為民父母告之。夫父母之於子，為之就利避害，未嘗頃刻而忘於懷，何至視之不如犬馬乎？」
梁惠王曰：「晉國，天下莫強焉，叟之所知也。及寡人之身，東敗於齊，長子死焉；西喪地於秦七百里；南辱於楚。寡人恥之，願比死者一灑之，如之何則可？」孟子對曰：「地方百里而可以王。王如施政於民，省刑罰，薄稅斂，深耕易耨。壯者以暇日修其悌忠，入以事其父兄，出以事其長上，可使制梃以撻秦楚之堅甲利兵矣。彼奪其民時，使不得耕耨以養其父母，父母凍餓，兄弟妻子離散。彼陷溺其民，王往而征之，夫誰與王敵？故曰：『者無敵。』王請勿疑！」
King Hui of Liang said, 'There was not in the nation a stronger State than Jin, as you, venerable Sir, know. But since it descended to me, on the east we have been defeated by Qi, and then my eldest son perished; on the west we have lost seven hundred li of territory to Qin; and on the south we have sustained disgrace at the hands of Chu. I have brought shame on my departed predecessors, and wish on their account to wipe it away, once for all. What course is to be pursued to accomplish this?'
Mencius replied, 'With a territory which is only a hundred li square, it is possible to attain to the royal dignity. If Your Majesty will indeed dispense a benevolent government to the people, being sparing in the use of punishments and fines, and making the taxes and levies light, so causing that the fields shall be ploughed deep, and the weeding of them be carefully attended to, and that the strong-bodied, during their days of leisure, shall cultivate their filial piety, fraternal respectfulness, sincerity, and truthfulness, serving thereby, at home, their fathers and elder brothers, and, abroad, their elders and superiors, you will then have a people who can be employed, with sticks which they have prepared, to oppose the strong mail and sharp weapons of the troops of Qin and Chu. The rulers of those States rob their people of their time, so that they cannot plough and weed their fields, in order to support their parents. Their parents suffer from cold and hunger. Brothers, wives, and children are separated and scattered abroad. Those rulers, as it were, drive their people into pit-falls, or drown them. Your Majesty will go to punish them. In such a case, who will oppose your Majesty? In accordance with this is the saying, "The benevolent has no enemy." I beg your Majesty not to doubt what I say.'
注 Zhu Xi 孟子集注
梁惠王曰：「晉國，天下莫強焉，叟之所知也。及寡人之身，東敗於齊，長子死焉；西喪地於秦七百里；南辱於楚。寡人恥之，願比死者一灑之，如之何則可？」 長，上聲。喪，去聲。比，必二反。灑與洗同。魏本晉大夫魏斯，與韓氏趙氏共分晉地，號曰三晉。故惠王猶自謂晉國。惠王三十年，齊擊魏，破其軍，虜太子申。十七年，秦取魏少梁，後魏又數獻地於秦。又與楚將昭陽戰敗，亡其七邑。比，猶為也。言欲為死者雪其恥也。
孟子對曰：「地方百里而可以王。 百里，小國也。然能行仁政，則天下之民歸之矣。
王如施仁政於民，省刑罰，薄稅斂，深耕易耨。壯者以暇日修其孝悌忠信，入以事其父兄，出以事其長上，可使制梃以撻秦楚之堅甲利兵矣。 省，所梗反。斂、易皆去聲。耨，奴豆反。長，上聲。省刑罰，薄稅斂，此二者仁政之大目也。易，治也。耨，耘也。盡己之謂忠，以實之謂信。君行仁政，則民得盡力於農畝，而又有暇日以修禮義，是以尊君親上而樂於效死也。
彼奪其民時，使不得耕耨以養其父母，父母凍餓，兄弟妻子離散。 養，去聲。彼，謂敵國也。
彼陷溺其民，王往而征之，夫誰與王敵？ 夫，音扶。陷，陷於阱。溺，溺於水。暴虐之意。征，正也。以彼暴虐其民，而率吾尊君親上之民往正其罪。彼民方怨其上而樂歸於我，則誰與我為敵哉？
故曰：『仁者無敵。』王請勿疑！」 「仁者無敵」，蓋古語也。百里可王，以此而已。恐王疑其迂闊，故勉使勿疑也。孔氏曰：「惠王之志在於報怨，孟子以論在於救民。所謂惟天吏則可以伐之，蓋孟子之本意。」
孟子見梁襄王。出，語人曰：「望之不似人君，就之而不見所畏焉。卒然問曰：『天下惡乎定？』吾對曰：『定於一。』『孰能一之？』對曰：『不嗜殺人者能一之。』『孰能與之？』對曰：『天下莫不與也。王知夫苗乎？七八月之間旱，則苗槁矣。油然作雲，沛然下雨，則苗浡然興之矣。其如是，孰能御之？今夫天下之人牧，未有不嗜殺人者也，如有不嗜殺人者，則天下之民皆引領而望之矣。誠如是也，民歸之，由水之就下，沛然誰能御之？』」
Mencius went to see the king Xiang of Liang. On coming out from the interview, he said to some persons, 'When I looked at him from a distance, he did not appear like a sovereign; when I drew near to him, I saw nothing venerable about him. Abruptly he asked me, "How can the kingdom be settled?" I replied, "It will be settled by being united under one sway."
'"Who can so unite it?" I replied, "He who has no pleasure in killing men can so unite it."'
'"Who can give it to him?" I replied, " All the people of the nation will unanimously give it to him. Does your Majesty understand the way of the growing grain? During the seventh and eighth months, when drought prevails, the plants become dry. Then the clouds collect densely in the heavens, they send down torrents of rain, and the grain erects itself, as if by a shoot. When it does so, who can keep it back? Now among the shepherds of men throughout the nation, there is not one who does not find pleasure in killing men. If there were one who did not find pleasure in killing men, all the people in the nation would look towards him with outstretched necks. Such being indeed the case, the people would flock to him, as water flows downwards with a rush, which no one can repress."'
注 Zhu Xi 孟子集注
孟子見梁襄王。 襄王，惠王子，名赫。
出，語人曰：「望之不似人君，就之而不見所畏焉。卒然問曰：『天下惡乎定？』吾對曰：『定於一。』 語，去聲。卒，七沒反。惡，平聲。語，告也。不似人君，不見所畏，言其無威儀也。卒然，急遽之貌。蓋容貌辭氣，乃德之符。其外如此，則其中之所存者可知。王問列國分爭，天下當何所定。孟子對以必合於一，然後定也。
『孰能一之？』 王問也。
對曰：『不嗜殺人者能一之。』 嗜，甘也。
『孰能與之？』 王復問也。與，猶歸也。
對曰：『天下莫不與也。王知夫苗乎？七八月之間旱，則苗槁矣。天油然作雲，沛然下雨，則苗浡然興之矣。其如是，孰能御之？今夫天下之人牧，未有不嗜殺人者也，如有不嗜殺人者，則天下之民皆引領而望之矣。誠如是也，民歸之，由水之就下，沛然誰能御之？』」 夫，音扶。浡，音勃。由當作猶，古字借用。後多放此。周七八月，夏五六月也。油然，雲盛貌。沛然，雨盛貌。浡然，興起貌。御，禁止也。人牧，謂牧民之君也。領，頸也。蓋好生惡死，人心所同。故人君不嗜殺人，則天下悅而歸之。蘇氏曰：「孟子之言，非苟為大而已。然不深原其意而詳究其實，未有不以為迂者矣。予觀孟子以來，自漢高祖及光武及唐太宗及我太祖皇帝，能一天下者四君，皆以不嗜殺人致之。其餘殺人愈多而天下愈亂。秦晉及隋，力能合之，而好殺不已，故或合而復分，或遂以亡國。孟子之言，豈偶然而已哉？」
齊宣王問曰：「齊桓、晉文之事可得聞乎？」孟子對曰：「仲尼之徒無道桓、文之事者，是以後世無傳焉。臣未之聞也。無以，則王乎？」曰：「德何如，則可以王矣？」曰：「保民而王，莫之能御也。」曰：「若寡人者，可以保民乎哉？」曰：「可。」曰：「何由知吾可也？」曰：「臣聞之胡齕曰，王坐於堂上，有牽牛而過堂下者，王見之，曰：『牛何之？』對曰：『將以釁鐘。』王曰：『舍之！吾不忍其觳觫，若無罪而就死地。』對曰：『然則廢釁鐘與？』曰：『何可廢也？以羊易之！』不識有諸？」曰：「有之。」曰：「是心足以王矣。百姓皆以王為愛也，臣固知王之不忍也。」王曰：「然。誠有百姓者。齊國雖褊小，吾何愛一牛？即不忍其觳觫，若無罪而就死地，故以羊易之也。」曰：「王無異於百姓之以王為愛也。以小易大，彼惡知之？王若隱其無罪而就死地，則牛羊何擇焉？」王笑曰：「是誠何心哉？我非愛其財。而易之以羊也，宜乎百姓之謂我愛也。」曰：「無傷也，是乃術也，見牛未見羊也。之於禽獸也，見其生，不忍見其死；聞其聲，不忍食其肉。是以遠庖廚也。」王說曰：「詩云：『他人有心，予忖度之。』夫子之謂也。夫我乃行之，反而求之，不得吾心。夫子言之，於我心有戚戚焉。此心之所以合於王者，何也？」曰：「有復於王者曰：『吾力足以舉百鈞』，而不足以舉一羽；『明足以察秋毫之末』，而不見輿薪，則王許之乎？」曰：「否。」「今恩足以及禽獸，而功不至於百姓者，獨何與？然則一羽之不舉，為不用力焉；輿薪之不見，為不用明焉，百姓之不見保，為不用恩焉。故王之不王，不為也，非不能也。」曰：「不為者與不能者之形何以異？」曰：「挾太山以超北海，語人曰『我不能』，是誠不能也。為長者折枝，語人曰『我不能』，是不為也，非不能也。故王之不王，非挾太山以超北海之類也；王之不王，是折枝之類也。老吾老，以及人之老；幼吾幼，以及人之幼。天下可運於掌。詩云：『刑於寡妻，至於兄弟，以御於家邦。』言舉斯心加諸彼而已。故推恩足以保四海，不推恩無以保妻子。古之人所以大過人者無他焉，善推其所為而已矣。今恩足以及禽獸，而功不至於百姓者，獨何與？權，然後知輕重；度，然後知長短。物皆然，心為甚。王請度之！抑王興甲兵，危士臣，構怨於諸侯，然後快於心與？」王曰：「否。吾何快於是？將以求吾所大欲也。」曰：「王之所大欲可得聞與？」王笑而不言。曰：「為肥甘不足於口與？輕暖不足於體與？抑為采色不足視於目與？聲音不足聽於耳與？便嬖不足使令於前與？王之諸臣皆足以供之，而王豈為是哉？」曰：「否。吾不為是也。」曰：「然則王之所大欲可知已。欲闢土地，朝秦楚，蒞中國而撫四夷也。以若所為求若所欲，猶緣木而求魚也。」王曰：「若是其甚與？」曰：「殆有甚焉。緣木求魚，雖不得魚，無後災。以若所為，求若所欲，盡心力而為之，後必有災。」曰：「可得聞與？」曰：「鄒人與楚人戰，則王以為孰勝？」曰：「楚人勝。」曰：「然則小固不可以敵大，寡固不可以敵眾，弱固不可以敵強。海內之地方千里者九，齊集有其一。以一服八，何以異於鄒敵楚哉？蓋亦反其本矣。今王發政施，使天下仕者皆欲立於王之朝，耕者皆欲耕於王之野，商賈皆欲藏於王之市，行旅皆欲出於王之塗，天下之欲疾其君者皆欲赴愬於王。其若是，孰能御之？」王曰：「吾惛，不能進於是矣。願夫子輔吾志，明以教我。我雖不敏，請嘗試之。」曰：「無恆產而有恆心者，惟士為能。若民，則無恆產，因無恆心。苟無恆心，放辟，邪侈，無不為已。及陷於罪，然後從而刑之，是罔民也。焉有人在位，罔民而可為也？是故明君制民之產，必使仰足以事父母，俯足以畜妻子，樂歲終身飽，凶年免於死亡。然後驅而之善，故民之從之也輕。今也制民之產，仰不足以事父母，俯不足以畜妻子，樂歲終身苦，凶年不免於死亡。此惟救死而恐不贍，奚暇治哉？王欲行之，則盍反其本矣。五畝之宅，樹之以桑，五十者可以衣帛矣；雞豚狗彘之畜，無失其時，七十者可以食肉矣；百畝之田，勿奪其時，八口之家可以無飢矣；謹庠序之教，申之以悌之，頒白者不負戴於道路矣。老者衣帛食肉，黎民不饑不寒，然而不王者，未之有也。」
The king Xuan of Qi asked, saying, 'May I be informed by you of the transactions of Huan of Qi, and Wen of Jin?'
Mencius replied, 'There were none of the disciples of Zhong Ni who spoke about the affairs of Huan and Wen, and therefore they have not been transmitted to these after-ages - your servant has not heard them. If you will have me speak, let it be about royal government.'
The king said, 'What virtue must there be in order to attain to royal sway?'
Mencius answered, 'The love and protection of the people; with this there is no power which can prevent a ruler from attaining to it.'
The king asked again, 'Is such an one as I competent to love and protect the people?'
'How do you know that I am competent for that?'
'I heard the following incident from Hu He: "The king," said he, "was sitting aloft in the hall, when a man appeared, leading an ox past the lower part of it. The king saw him, and asked, Where is the ox going? The man replied, We are going to consecrate a bell with its blood. The king said, Let it go. I cannot bear its frightened appearance, as if it were an innocent person going to the place of death. The man answered, Shall we then omit the consecration of the bell ? The king said, How can that be omitted? Change it for a sheep." I do not know whether this incident really occurred.'
and then Mencius said, 'The heart seen in this is sufficient to carry you to the royal sway. The people all supposed that your Majesty grudged the animal, but your servant knows surely, that it was your Majesty's not being able to bear the sight, which made you do as you did.'
The king said, 'You are right. And yet there really was an appearance of what the people condemned. But though Qi be a small and narrow State, how should I grudge one ox? Indeed it was because I could not bear its frightened appearance, as if it were an innocent person going to the place of death, that therefore I changed it for a sheep.'
Mencius pursued, 'Let not your Majesty deem it strange that the people should think you were grudging the animal. When you changed a large one for a small, how should they know the true reason? If you felt pained by its being led without guilt to the place of death, what was there to choose between an ox and a sheep?
The king laughed and said, 'What really was my mind in the matter? I did not grudge the expense of it, and changed it for a sheep! There was reason in the people's saying that I grudged it.'
'There is no harm in their saying so,' said Mencius. 'Your conduct was an artifice of benevolence. You saw the ox, and had not seen the sheep. So is the superior man affected towards animals, that, having seen them alive, he cannot bear to see them die; having heard their dying cries, he cannot bear to eat their flesh. Therefore he keeps away from his slaughter-house and cook-room.'
The king was pleased, and said, 'It is said in the Book of Poetry, "The minds of others, I am able by reflection to measure;" - this is verified, my Master, in your discovery of my motive. I indeed did the thing, but when I turned my thoughts inward, and examined into it, I could not discover my own mind. When you, Master, spoke those words, the movements of compassion began to work in my mind. How is it that this heart has in it what is equal to the royal sway?'
Mencius replied, 'Suppose a man were to make this statement to your Majesty: "My strength is sufficient to lift three thousand catties, but it is not sufficient to lift one feather; my eyesight is sharp enough to examine the point of an autumn hair, but I do not see a waggon-load of faggots;" would your Majesty allow what he said?'
on which Mencius proceeded, 'Now here is kindness sufficient to reach to animals, and no benefits are extended from it to the people. How is this? Is an exception to be made here? The truth is, the feather is not lifted , because strength is not used; the waggon-load of firewood is not seen, because the eyesight is not used; and the people are not loved and protected, because kindness is not employed. Therefore your Majesty's not exercising the royal sway, is because you do not do it, not because you are not able to do it.'
The king asked, 'How may the difference between the not doing a thing, and the not being able to do it, be represented?
Mencius replied,'In such a thing as taking the Tai mountain under your arm, and leaping over the north sea with it, if you say to people "I am not able to do it," that is a real case of not being able. In such a matter as breaking off a branch from a tree at the order of a superior, if you say to people "I am not able to do it," that is a case of not doing it, it is not a case of not being able to do it. Therefore your Majesty's not exercising the royal sway, is not such a case as that of taking the Tai mountain under your arm, and leaping over the north sea with it. Your Majesty's not exercising the royal sway is a case like that of breaking off a branch from a tree. Treat with the reverence due to age the elders in your own family, so that the elders in the families of others shall be similarly treated; treat with the kindness due to youth the young in your own family, so that the young in the families of others shall be similarly treated - do this, and the kingdom may be made to go round in your palm. It is said in the Book of Poetry, "His example affected his wife. It reached to his brothers, and his family of the State was governed by it." The language shows how king Wen simply took his kindly heart, and exercised it towards those parties. Therefore the carrying out his kindness of heart by a prince will suffice for the love and protection of all within the four seas, and if he do not carry it out, he will not be able to protect his wife and children. The way in which the ancients came greatly to surpass other men, was no other but this - simply that they knew well how to carry out, so as to affect others, what they themselves did. Now your kindness is sufficient to reach to animals, and no benefits are extended from it to reach the people. How is this? Is an exception to be made here? By weighing, we know what things are light, and what heavy. By measuring, we know what things are long, and what short. The relations of all things may be thus determined, and it is of the greatest importance to estimate the motions of the mind. I beg your Majesty to measure it. You collect your equipments of war, endanger your soldiers and officers, and excite the resentment of the other princes - do these things cause you pleasure in your mind?'
The king replied, 'No. How should I derive pleasure from these things? My object in them is to seek for what I greatly desire.'
Mencius said, 'May I hear from you what it is that you greatly desire?' The king laughed and did not speak.
Mencius resumed, 'Are you led to desire it, because you have not enough of rich and sweet food for your mouth? Or because you have not enough of light and warm clothing for your body? Or because you have not enough of beautifully coloured objects to delight your eyes? Or because you have not voices and tones enough to please your ears? Or because you have not enough of attendants and favourites to stand before you and receive your orders? Your Majesty's various officers are sufficient to supply you with those things. How can your Majesty be led to entertain such a desire on account of them?'
'No,' said the king; 'my desire is not on account of them.'
Mencius added, 'Then, what your Majesty greatly desires may be known. You wish to enlarge your territories, to have Qin and Chu wait at your court, to rule the Middle Kingdom, and to attract to you the barbarous tribes that surround it. But doing what you do to seek for what you desire is like climbing a tree to seek for fish.'
The king said, 'Is it so bad as that?'
'It is even worse,' was the reply. 'If you climb a tree to seek for fish, although you do not get the fish, you will not suffer any subsequent calamity. But doing what you do to seek for what you desire, doing it moreover with all your heart, you will assuredly afterwards meet with calamities.'
The king asked, 'May I hear from you the proof of that?'
Mencius said, 'If the people of Zou should fight with the people of Chu, which of them does your Majesty think would conquer?'
'The people of Chu would conquer.'
'Yes - and so it is certain that a small country cannot contend with a great, that few cannot contend with many, that the weak cannot contend with the strong. The territory within the four seas embraces nine divisions, each of a thousand li square. All Qi together is but one of them. If with one part you try to subdue the other eight, what is the difference between that and Zou's contending with Chu? For, with such a desire, you must turn back to the proper course for its attainment. Now if your Majesty will institute a government whose action shall be benevolent, this will cause all the officers in the kingdom to wish to stand in your Majesty's court, and all the farmers to wish to plough in your Majesty's fields, and all the merchants, both travelling and stationary, to wish to store their goods in your Majesty's market-places, and all travelling strangers to wish to make their tours on your Majesty's roads, and all throughout the kingdom who feel aggrieved by their rulers to wish to come and complain to your Majesty. And when they are so bent, who will be able to keep them back?'
The king said, 'I am stupid, and not able to advance to this. I wish you, my Master, to assist my intentions. Teach me clearly; although I am deficient in intelligence and vigour, I will essay and try to carry your instructions into effect.'
Mencius replied, 'They are only men of education, who, without a certain livelihood, are able to maintain a fixed heart. As to the people, if they have not a certain livelihood, it follows that they will not have a fixed heart. And if they have not a fixed heart, there is nothing which they will not do, in the way of self-abandonment, of moral deflection, of depravity, and of wild license. When they thus have been involved in crime, to follow them up and punish them - this is to entrap the people. How can such a thing as entrapping the people be done under the rule of a benevolent man? Therefore an intelligent ruler will regulate the livelihood of the people, so as to make sure that, for those above them, they shall have sufficient wherewith to serve their parents, and, for those below them, sufficient wherewith to support their wives and children; that in good years they shall always be abundantly satisfied, and that in bad years they shall escape the danger of perishing. After this he may urge them, and they will proceed to what is good, for in this case the people will follow after it with ease. Now, the livelihood of the people is so regulated, that, above, they have not sufficient wherewith to serve their parents, and, below, they have not sufficient wherewith to support their wives and children. Notwithstanding good years, their lives are continually embittered, and, in bad years, they do not escape perishing. In such circumstances they only try to save themselves from death, and are afraid they will not succeed. What leisure have they to cultivate propriety and righteousness? If your Majesty wishes to effect this regulation of the livelihood of the people, why not turn to that which is the essential step to it? Let mulberry-trees be planted about the homesteads with their five mu, and persons of fifty years may be clothed with silk. In keeping fowls, pigs, dogs, and swine, let not their times of breeding be neglected, and persons of seventy years may eat flesh. Let there not be taken away the time that is proper for the cultivation of the farm with its hundred mu, and the family of eight mouths that is supported by it shall not suffer from hunger. Let careful attention be paid to education in schools, the inculcation in it especially of the filial and fraternal duties, and grey-haired men will not be seen upon the roads, carrying burdens on their backs or on their heads. It never has been that the ruler of a State where such results were seen, the old wearing silk and eating flesh, and the black-haired people suffering neither from hunger nor cold, did not attain to the royal dignity.'
注 Zhu Xi 孟子集注
齊宣王問曰：「齊桓、晉文之事可得聞乎？」 齊宣王，姓田氏，名辟強，諸侯僭稱王也。齊桓公、晉文公，皆霸諸侯者。
孟子對曰：「仲尼之徒無道桓、文之事者，是以後世無傳焉。臣未之聞也。無以，則王乎？」 道，言也。董子曰：「仲尼之門，五尺童子羞稱五霸。為其先詐力而後仁義也，亦此意也。」以、已通用。無已，必欲言之而不止也。王，謂王天下之道。
曰：「德何如，則可以王矣？」曰：「保民而王，莫之能御也。」 保，愛護也。
曰：「若寡人者，可以保民乎哉？」曰：「可。」曰：「何由知吾可也？」曰：「臣聞之胡齕曰，王坐於堂上，有牽牛而過堂下者，王見之，曰：『牛何之？』對曰：『將以釁鐘。』王曰：『舍之！吾不忍其觳觫，若無罪而就死地。』對曰：『然則廢釁鐘與？』曰：『何可廢也？以羊易之！』不識有諸？」 齕，音核。舍，上聲。觳，音斛。觫，音速。與，平聲。胡齕，齊臣也。釁鐘，新鑄鐘成，而殺牲取血以塗其釁卻也。觳觫，恐懼貌。孟子述所聞胡齕之語而問王，不知果有此事否？
曰：「有之。」曰：「是心足以王矣。百姓皆以王為愛也，臣固知王之不忍也。」 王見牛之觳觫而不忍殺，即所謂惻隱之心，仁之端也。擴而充之，則可以保四海矣。故孟子指而言之，欲王察識於此而擴充之也。愛，猶吝也。
王曰：「然。誠有百姓者。齊國雖褊小，吾何愛一牛？即不忍其觳觫，若無罪而就死地，故以羊易之也。」 言以羊易牛，其迹似吝，實有如百姓所譏者。然我之心不如是也。
曰：「王無異於百姓之以王為愛也。以小易大，彼惡知之？王若隱其無罪而就死地，則牛羊何擇焉？」王笑曰：「是誠何心哉？我非愛其財。而易之以羊也，宜乎百姓之謂我愛也。」 惡，平聲。異，怪也。隱，痛也。擇，猶分也。言牛羊皆無罪而死，何所分別而以羊易牛乎？孟子故設此難，欲王反求而得其本心。王不能然，故卒無以自解於百姓之言也
曰：「無傷也，是乃仁術也，見牛未見羊也。君子之於禽獸也，見其生，不忍見其死；聞其聲，不忍食其肉。是以君子遠庖廚也。」 遠，去聲。無傷，言雖有百姓之言，不為害也。術，謂法之巧者。蓋殺牛既所不忍，釁鐘又不可廢。於此無以處之，則此心雖發而終不得施矣。然見牛則此心已發而不可遏，未見羊則其理未形而無所妨。故以羊易牛，則二者得以兩全而無害，此所以為仁之術也。聲，謂將死而哀鳴也。蓋人之於禽獸，同生而異類。故用之以禮，而不忍之心施於見聞之所及。其所以必遠庖廚者，亦以預養是心，而廣為仁之術也
王說曰：「詩云：『他人有心，予忖度之。』夫子之謂也。夫我乃行之，反而求之，不得吾心。夫子言之，於我心有戚戚焉。此心之所以合於王者，何也？」 說，音悅。忖，七本反。度，待洛反。夫我之夫，音扶。詩小雅巧言之篇。戚戚，心動貌。王因孟子之言，而前日之心復萌，乃知此心不從外得，然猶未知所以反其本而推之也。
曰：「有復於王者曰：『吾力足以舉百鈞』，而不足以舉一羽；『明足以察秋毫之末』，而不見輿薪，則王許之乎？」曰：「否。」「今恩足以及禽獸，而功不至於百姓者，獨何與？然則一羽之不舉，為不用力焉；輿薪之不見，為不用明焉，百姓之不見保，為不用恩焉。故王之不王，不為也，非不能也。」 與，平聲。為不之為，去聲。復，白也。鈞，三十斤。百鈞，至重難舉也。羽，鳥羽。一羽，至輕易舉也。秋毫之末，毛至秋而末銳，小而難見也。輿薪，以車載薪，大而易見也。許，猶可也。今恩以下，又孟子之言也。蓋天地之性，人為貴。故人之與人，又為同類而相親。是以惻隱之發，則於民切而於物緩；推廣仁術，則仁民易而愛物難。今王此心能及物矣，則其保民而王，非不能也，但自不肯為耳。
曰：「不為者與不能者之形何以異？」曰：「挾太山以超北海，語人曰『我不能』，是誠不能也。為長者折枝，語人曰『我不能』，是不為也，非不能也。故王之不王，非挾太山以超北海之類也；王之不王，是折枝之類也。 語，去聲。為長之為，去聲。長，上聲。折，之舌反。形，狀也。挾，以腋持物也。超，躍而過也。為長者折枝，以長者之命，折草木之枝，言不難也。是心固有，不待外求，擴而充之，在我而已。何難之有？
老吾老，以及人之老；幼吾幼，以及人之幼。天下可運於掌。詩云：『刑於寡妻，至於兄弟，以御於家邦。』言舉斯心加諸彼而已。故推恩足以保四海，不推恩無以保妻子。古之人所以大過人者無他焉，善推其所為而已矣。今恩足以及禽獸，而功不至於百姓者，獨何與？ 與，平聲。老，以老事之也。吾老，謂我之父兄。人之老，謂人之父兄。幼，以幼畜之也。吾幼，謂我之子弟。人之幼，謂人之子弟。運於掌，言易也。詩大雅思齊之篇。刑，法也。寡妻，寡德之妻，謙辭也。御，治也。不能推恩，則眾叛親離，故無以保妻子。蓋骨肉之親，本同一氣，又非但若人之同類而已。故古人必由親親推之，然後及於仁民；又推其餘，然後及於愛物，皆由近以及遠，自易以及難。今王反之，則必有故矣。故復推本而再問之。
權，然後知輕重；度，然後知長短。物皆然，心為甚。王請度之！ 度之之度，待洛反。權，稱錘也。度，丈尺也。度之，謂稱量之也。言物之輕重長短，人所難齊，必以權度度之而後可見。若心之應物，則其輕重長短之難齊，而不可不度以本然之權度，又有甚於物者。今王恩及禽獸，而功不至於百姓。是其愛物之心重且長，而仁民之心輕且短，失其當然之序而不自知也。故上文既發其端，而於此請王度之也。
抑王興甲兵，危士臣，構怨於諸侯，然後快於心與？」 與，平聲。抑，發語辭。士，戰士也。構，結也。孟子以王愛民之心所以輕且短者，必其以是三者為快也。然三事實非人心之所快，有甚於殺觳觫之牛者。故指以問王，欲其以此而度之也。
王曰：「否。吾何快於是？將以求吾所大欲也。」 不快於此者，心之正也；而必為此者，欲誘之也。欲之所誘者獨在於是，是以其心尚明於他而獨暗於此。此其愛民之心所以輕短，而功不至於百姓也。
曰：「王之所大欲可得聞與？」王笑而不言。曰：「為肥甘不足於口與？輕暖不足於體與？抑為采色不足視於目與？聲音不足聽於耳與？便嬖不足使令於前與？王之諸臣皆足以供之，而王豈為是哉？」曰：「否。吾不為是也。」曰：「然則王之所大欲可知已。欲闢土地，朝秦楚，蒞中國而撫四夷也。以若所為求若所欲，猶緣木而求魚也。」 與，平聲。為肥、抑為、豈為，不為之為，皆去聲。便、令皆平聲。闢，與辟同。朝，音潮。便嬖，近習嬖倖之人也。已，語助辭。辟，開廣也。朝，致其來朝也。秦楚，皆大國。蒞，臨也。若，如此也。所為，指興兵結怨之事。緣木求魚，言必不可得。
王曰：「若是其甚與？」曰：「殆有甚焉。緣木求魚，雖不得魚，無後災。以若所為，求若所欲，盡心力而為之，後必有災。」曰：「可得聞與？」曰：「鄒人與楚人戰，則王以為孰勝？」曰：「楚人勝。」曰：「然則小固不可以敵大，寡固不可以敵眾，弱固不可以敵強。海內之地方千里者九，齊集有其一。以一服八，何以異於鄒敵楚哉？蓋亦反其本矣。 甚與、聞與之與，平聲。殆、蓋，皆發語辭。鄒，小國。楚，大國。齊集有其一，言集合齊地，其方千里，是有天下九分之一也。以一服八，必不能勝，所謂後災也。反本，說見下文。
今王發政施仁，使天下仕者皆欲立於王之朝，耕者皆欲耕於王之野，商賈皆欲藏於王之市，行旅皆欲出於王之塗，天下之欲疾其君者皆欲赴愬於王。其若是，孰能御之？」 朝，音潮。賈，音古。愬，與訴同。行貨曰商，居貨曰賈。發政施仁，所以王天下之本也。近者悅，遠者來，則大小強弱非所論矣。蓋力求所欲，則所欲者反不可得；能反其本，則所欲者不求而至。與首章意同。
王曰：「吾惛，不能進於是矣。願夫子輔吾志，明以教我。我雖不敏，請嘗試之。」 惛，與昏同。
曰：「無恆產而有恆心者，惟士為能。若民，則無恆產，因無恆心。苟無恆心，放辟，邪侈，無不為已。及陷於罪，然後從而刑之，是罔民也。焉有仁人在位，罔民而可為也？ 恆，胡登反。辟，與僻同。焉，於虔反。恆，常也。產，生業也。恆產，可常生之業也。恆心，人所常有之善心也。士嘗學問，知義理，故雖無常產而有常心。民則不能然矣。罔，猶羅網，欺其不見而取之也。
是故明君制民之產，必使仰足以事父母，俯足以畜妻子，樂歲終身飽，凶年免於死亡。然後驅而之善，故民之從之也輕。 畜，許六反，下同。輕，猶易也。此言民有常產而有常心也。
今也制民之產，仰不足以事父母，俯不足以畜妻子，樂歲終身苦，凶年不免於死亡。此惟救死而恐不贍，奚暇治禮義哉？ 治，平聲。凡治字為理物之義者，平聲；為己理之義者，去聲。後皆放此。贍，足也。此所謂無常產而無常心者也。
王欲行之，則盍反其本矣。 盍，何不也。使民有常產者，又發政施仁之本也。說具下文。
五畝之宅，樹之以桑，五十者可以衣帛矣；雞豚狗彘之畜，無失其時，七十者可以食肉矣；百畝之田，勿奪其時，八口之家可以無飢矣；謹庠序之教，申之以孝悌之義，頒白者不負戴於道路矣。老者衣帛食肉，黎民不饑不寒，然而不王者，未之有也。」 音見前章。此言制民之產之法也。趙氏曰：「八口之家，次上農夫也。此王政之本，常生之道，故孟子為齊梁之君各陳之也。」楊氏曰：「為天下者，舉斯心加諸彼而已。然雖有仁心仁聞，而民不被其澤者，不行先王之道故也。故以制民之產告之。」此章言人君當黜霸功，行王道。而王道之要，不過推其不忍之心，以行不忍之政而已。齊王非無此心，而奪於功利之私，不能擴充以行仁政。雖以孟子反覆曉告，精切如此，而蔽固已深，終不能悟，是可歎也。