Mencius

孟
子
Mèng
zǐ
Mencius · ~300 BCE

盡心上 Book 7A · Jìn xīn shàng

孟子曰:「盡其心者,知其也。知其,則知矣。存其心,養其,所以事也。殀壽不貳,修身以俟之,所以立命也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'He who has exhausted all his mental constitution knows his nature. Knowing his nature, he knows Heaven. To preserve one's mental constitution, and nourish one's nature, is the way to serve Heaven. When neither a premature death nor long life causes a man any double-mindedness, but he waits in the cultivation of his personal character for whatever issue; this is the way in which he establishes his Heaven-ordained being.'

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孟子曰:「盡其心者,知其性也。知其性,則知天矣。 心者,人之神明,所以具眾理而應萬事者也。性則心之所具之理,而天又理之所從以出者也。人有是心,莫非全體,然不窮理,則有所蔽而無以盡乎此心之量。故能極其心之全體而無不盡者,必其能窮夫理而無不知者也。既知其理,則其所從出。亦不外是矣。以大學之序言之,知性則物格之謂,盡心則知至之謂也。

存其心,養其性,所以事天也。 存,謂操而不舍;養,謂順而不害。事,則奉承而不違也。

殀壽不貳,修身以俟之,所以立命也。」 殀壽,命之短長也。貳,疑也。不貳者,知天之至,修身以俟死,則事天以終身也。立命,謂全其天之所付,不以人為害之。程子曰:「心也、性也、天也,一理也。自理而言謂之天,自稟受而言謂之性,自存諸人而言謂之心。」張子曰:「由太虛,有天之名;由氣化,有道之名;合虛與氣,有性之名;合性與知覺,有心之名。」愚謂盡心知性而知天,所以造其理也;存心養性以事天,所以履其事也。不知其理,固不能履其事;然徒造其理而不履其事,則亦無以有諸己矣。知天而不以殀壽貳其心,智之盡也;事天而能修身以俟死,仁之至也。智有不盡,固不知所以為仁;然智而不仁,則亦將流蕩不法,而不足以為智矣。

孟子曰:「莫非命也,順受其正。是故知命者,不立乎巖牆之下。盡其道而死者,正命也。桎梏死者,非正命也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'There is an appointment for everything. A man should receive submissively what may be correctly ascribed thereto. Therefore, he who has the true idea of what is Heaven's appointment will not stand beneath a precipitous wall. Death sustained in the discharge of one's duties may correctly be ascribed to the appointment of Heaven. Death under handcuffs and fetters cannot correctly be so ascribed.'

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孟子曰:「莫非命也,順受其正。 人物之生,吉凶禍福,皆天所命。然惟莫之致而至者,乃為正命,故君子修身以俟之,所以順受乎此也。

是故知命者,不立乎巖牆之下。 命,謂正命。巖牆,牆之將覆者。知正命,則不處危地以取覆壓之禍。

盡其道而死者,正命也。 盡其道,則所值之吉凶,皆莫之致而至者矣。

桎梏死者,非正命也。」 桎梏,所以拘罪人者。言犯罪而死,與立巖牆之下者同,皆人所取,非天所為也。此章與上章蓋一時之言,所以發其末句未盡之意。

孟子曰:「求則得之,舍則失之,是求有益於得也,求在我者也。求之有道,得之有命,是求無益於得也,求在外者也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'When we get by our seeking and lose by our neglecting - in that case seeking is of use to getting, and the things sought for are those which are in ourselves. When the seeking is according to the proper course, and the getting is only as appointed - in that case the seeking is of no use to getting, and the things sought are without ourselves.'

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孟子曰:「求則得之,舍則失之,是求有益於得也,求在我者也。 舍,上聲。在我者,謂仁義禮智,凡性之所有者。

求之有道,得之有命,是求無益於得也,求在外者也。」 有道,言不可妄求。有命,則不可必得。在外者,謂富貴利達,凡外物皆是。趙氏曰:「言為仁由己,富貴在天,如不可求,從吾所好。」

孟子曰:「萬物皆備於我矣。反身而,樂莫大焉。強恕而行,求莫近焉。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'All things are already complete in us. There is no greater delight than to be conscious of sincerity on self-examination. If one acts with a vigorous effort at the law of reciprocity, when he seeks for the realization of perfect virtue, nothing can be closer than his approximation to it.'

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孟子曰:「萬物皆備於我矣。 此言理之本然也。大則君臣父子,小則事物細微,其當然之理,無一不具於性分之內也。

反身而誠,樂莫大焉。 樂,音洛。誠,實也。言反諸身,而所備之理,皆如惡惡臭、好好色之實然,則其行之不待勉強而無不利矣,其為樂孰大於是。

強恕而行,求仁莫近焉。」 強,上聲。強,勉強也。恕,推己以及人也。反身而誠則仁矣,其有未誠,則是猶有私意之隔,而理未純也。故當凡事勉強,推己及人,庶幾心公理得而仁不遠也。此章言萬物之理具於吾身,體之而實,則道在我而樂有餘;行之以恕,則私不容而仁可得。

孟子曰:「行之而不著焉,習矣而不察焉,終身由之而不知其道者,眾也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'To act without understanding, and to do so habitually without examination, pursuing the proper path all the life without knowing its nature - this is the way of multitudes.'

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著者,知之明;察者,識之精。言方行之而不能明其所當然,既習矣而猶不識其所以然,所以終身由之而不知其道者多也。

孟子曰:「人不可以無恥。無恥之恥,無恥矣。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'A man may not be without shame. When one is ashamed of having been without shame, he will afterwards not have occasion to be ashamed.'

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趙氏曰:「人能恥己之無所恥,是能改行從善之人,終身無復有恥辱之累矣。」

孟子曰:「恥之於人大矣。為機變之巧者,無所用恥焉。不恥不若人,何若人有?」

Legge

Mencius said, 'The sense of shame is to a man of great importance. Those who form contrivances and versatile schemes distinguished for their artfulness, do not allow their sense of shame to come into action. When one differs from other men in not having this sense of shame, what will he have in common with them?'

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孟子曰:「恥之於人大矣。 恥者,吾所固有羞惡之心也。存之則進於聖賢,失之則入於禽獸,故所繫為甚大。

為機變之巧者,無所用恥焉。 為機械變詐之巧者,所為之事皆人所深恥,而彼方且自以為得計,故無所用其愧恥之心也。

不恥不若人,何若人有?」 但無恥一事不如人,則事事不如人矣。或曰:「不恥其不如人,則何能有如人之事。」其義亦通。或問:「人有恥不能之心如何?」程子曰:「恥其不能而為之可也,恥其不能而掩藏之不可也。」

孟子曰:「古之賢王好善而忘勢,古之賢士何獨不然?樂其道而忘人之勢。故王公不致敬盡,則不得亟見之。見且由不得亟,而況得而臣之乎?」

Legge

Mencius said, 'The able and virtuous monarchs of antiquity loved virtue and forgot their power. And shall an exception be made of the able and virtuous scholars of antiquity, that they did not do the same? They delighted in their own principles, and were oblivious of the power of princes. Therefore, if kings and dukes did not show the utmost respect, and observe all forms of ceremony, they were not permitted to come frequently and visit them. If they thus found it not in their power to pay them frequent visits, how much less could they get to employ them as ministers?'

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好,去聲。樂,音洛。亟,去吏反。言君當屈己以下賢,士不枉道而求利。二者勢若相反,而實則相成,蓋亦各盡其道而已。

孟子謂宋句踐曰:「子好游乎?吾語子游。人知之,亦囂囂;人不知,亦囂囂。」曰:「何如斯可以囂囂矣?」曰:「尊德樂,則可以囂囂矣。故士窮不失,達不離道。窮不失,故士得己焉;達不離道,故民不失望焉。古之人,得志,澤加於民;不得志,修身見於世。窮則獨善其身,達則兼善天下。」

Legge

Mencius said to Song Gou Jian, 'Are you fond, Sir, of travelling to the different courts? I will tell you about such travelling. If a prince acknowledge you and follow your counsels, be perfectly satisfied. If no one do so, be the same.'

Gou Jian said, 'What is to be done to secure this perfect satisfaction?'

Mencius replied, 'Honour virtue and delight in righteousness, and so you may always be perfectly satisfied. Therefore, a scholar, though poor, does not let go his righteousness; though prosperous, he does not leave his own path. Poor and not letting righteousness go - it is thus that the scholar holds possession of himself. Prosperous and not leaving the proper path - it is thus that the expectations of the people from him are not disappointed. When the men of antiquity realized their wishes, benefits were conferred by them on the people. If they did not realize their wishes, they cultivated their personal character, and became illustrious in the world. If poor, they attended to their own virtue in solitude; if advanced to dignity, they made the whole kingdom virtuous as well.'

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孟子謂宋句踐曰:「子好游乎?吾語子游。 句,音鉤。好、語,皆去聲。宋,姓。句踐,名。游,遊說也。

人知之,亦囂囂;人不知,亦囂囂。」 趙氏曰:「囂囂,自得無慾之貌。」

曰:「何如斯可以囂囂矣?」曰:「尊德樂義,則可以囂囂矣。 樂,音洛。德,謂所得之善。尊之,則有以自重,而不慕乎人爵之榮。義,謂所守之正。樂之,則有以自安,而不殉乎外物之誘矣。

故士窮不失義,達不離道。 離,力智反。言不以貧賤而移,不以富貴而淫,此尊德樂義見於行事之實也。

窮不失義,故士得己焉;達不離道,故民不失望焉。 得己,言不失己也。民不失望,言人素望其興道致治,而今果如所望也。

古之人,得志,澤加於民;不得志,修身見於世。窮則獨善其身,達則兼善天下。」 見,音現。見,謂名實之顯著也。此又言士得己、民不失望之實。此章言內重而外輕,則無往而不善。

孟子曰:「待文王而後興者,凡民也。若夫豪傑之士,雖無文王猶興。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'The mass of men wait for a king Wen, and then they will receive a rousing impulse. Scholars distinguished from the mass, without a king Wan, rouse themselves.'

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夫,音扶。興者,感動奮發之意。凡民,庸常之人也。豪傑,有過人之才智者也。蓋降衷秉彝,人所同得,惟上智之資無物欲之蔽,為能無待於教,而自能感發以有為也。

孟子曰:「附之以韓魏之家,如其自視欿然,則過人遠矣。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Add to a man the families of Han and Wei. If he then look upon himself without being elated, he is far beyond the mass of men.'

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欿,音坎。附,益也。韓魏,晉卿富家也。欿然,不自滿之意。尹氏曰:「言有過人之識,則不以富貴為事。」

孟子曰:「以佚道使民,雖勞不怨;以生道殺民,雖死不怨殺者。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Let the people be employed in the way which is intended to secure their ease, and though they be toiled, they will not murmur. Let them be put to death in the way which is intended to preserve their lives, and though they die, they will not murmur at him who puts them to death.'

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程子曰:「以佚道使民,謂本欲佚之也,播榖乘屋之類是也。以生道殺民,謂本欲生之也,除害去惡之類是也。蓋不得已而為其所當為,則雖咈民之欲而民不怨,其不然者反是。」

孟子曰:「霸者之民,驩虞如也;王者之民,皞皞如也。殺之而不怨,利之而不庸,民日遷善而不知為之者。夫所過者化,所存者神,上下與地同流,豈曰小補之哉?」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Under a chief, leading all the princes, the people look brisk and cheerful. Under a true sovereign, they have an air of deep contentment. Though he slay them, they do not murmur. When he benefits them, they do not think of his merit. From day to day they make progress towards what is good, without knowing who makes them do so. Wherever the superior man passes through, transformation follows; wherever he abides, his influence is of a spiritual nature. It flows abroad, above and beneath, like that of Heaven and Earth. How can it be said that he mends society but in a small way!'

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孟子曰:「霸者之民,驩虞如也;王者之民,皞皞如也。 皞,胡老反。驩虞,與歡娛同。皞皞,廣大自得之貌。程子曰:「驩虞,有所造為而然,豈能久也?耕田鑿井,帝力何有於我?如天之自然,乃王者之政。」楊氏曰:「所以致人驩虞,必有違道干譽之事;若王者則如天,亦不令人喜,亦不令人怒。」

殺之而不怨,利之而不庸,民日遷善而不知為之者。 此所謂皞皞如也。庸,功也。豐氏曰:「因民之所惡而去之,非有心於殺之也,何怨之有?因民之所利而利之,非有心於利之也,何庸之有?輔其性之自然,使自得之,故民日遷善而不知誰之所為也。」

夫君子所過者化,所存者神,上下與天地同流,豈曰小補之哉?」 夫,音扶。君子,聖人之通稱也。所過者化,身所經歷之處,即人無不化,如舜之耕歷山而田者遜畔,陶河濱而器不苦窳也。所存者神,心所存主處便神妙不測,如孔子之立斯立、道斯行、綏斯來、動斯和,莫知其所以然而然也。是其德業之盛,乃與天地之化同運並行,舉一世而甄陶之,非如霸者但小小補塞其罅漏而已。此則王道之所以為大,而學者所當盡心也。

孟子曰:「言,不如聲之入人深也。善政,不如善教之得民也。善政民畏之,善教民愛之;善政得民財,善教得民心。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Kindly words do not enter so deeply into men as a reputation for kindness. Good government does not lay hold of the people so much as good instructions. Good government is feared by the people, while good instructions are loved by them. Good government gets the people's wealth, while good instructions get their hearts.'

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孟子曰:「仁言,不如仁聲之入人深也。 程子曰:「仁言,謂以仁厚之言加於民。仁聲,謂仁聞,謂有仁之實而為眾所稱道者也。此尤見仁德之昭著,故其感人尤深也。」

善政,不如善教之得民也。 政,謂法度禁令,所以制其外也。教,謂道德齊禮,所以格其心也。

善政民畏之,善教民愛之;善政得民財,善教得民心。」 得民財者,百姓足而君無不足也;得民心者,不遺其親,不後其君也。

孟子曰:「人之所不學而能者,其良能也;所不慮而知者,其也。孩提之童,無不知愛其親者;及其長也,無不知敬其兄也。親親,也;敬長,也。無他,達之天下也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'The ability possessed by men without having been acquired by learning is intuitive ability, and the knowledge possessed by them without the exercise of thought is their intuitive knowledge. Children carried in the arms all know to love their parents, and when they are grown a little, they all know to love their elder brothers. Filial affection for parents is the working of benevolence. Respect for elders is the working of righteousness. There is no other reason for those feelings - they belong to all under heaven.'

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孟子曰:「人之所不學而能者,其良能也;所不慮而知者,其良知也。 良者,本然之善也。程子曰:「良知良能,皆無所由;乃出於天,不繫於人。」

孩提之童,無不知愛其親者;及其長也,無不知敬其兄也。 長,上聲,下同。孩提,二三歲之閒,知孩笑、可提抱者也。愛親敬長,所謂良知良能者也。

親親,仁也;敬長,義也。無他,達之天下也。」 言親親敬長,雖一人之私,然達之天下無不同者,所以為仁義也。

孟子曰:「舜之居深山之中,與木石居,與鹿豕游,其所以異於深山之野人者幾希。及其聞一善言,見一善行,若決江河,沛然莫之能御也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'When Shun was living amid the deep retired mountains, dwelling with the trees and rocks, and wandering among the deer and swine, the difference between him and the rude inhabitants of those remote hills appeared very small. But when he heard a single good word, or saw a single good action, he was like a stream or a river bursting its banks, and flowing out in an irresistible flood.'

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行,去聲。居深山,謂耕歷山時也。蓋聖人之心,至虛至明,渾然之中,萬理畢具。一有感觸,則其應甚速,而無所不通,非孟子造道之深,不能形容至此也。

孟子曰:「無為其所不為,無慾其所不欲,如此而已矣。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Let a man not do what his own sense of righteousness tells him not to do, and let him not desire what his sense of righteousness tells him not to desire - to act thus is all he has to do.'

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李氏曰:「有所不為不欲,人皆有是心也。至於私意一萌,而不能以禮義制之,則為所不為、欲所不欲者多矣。能反是心,則所謂擴充其羞惡之心者,而義不可勝用矣,故曰如此而已矣。」

孟子曰:「人之有德慧術知者,恆存乎疢疾。獨孤臣孽子,其操心也危,其慮患也深,故達。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Men who are possessed of intelligent virtue and prudence in affairs will generally be found to have been in sickness and troubles. They are the friendless minister and concubine's son, who keep their hearts under a sense of peril, and use deep precautions against calamity. On this account they become distinguished for their intelligence.'

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孟子曰:「人之有德慧術知者,恆存乎疢疾。 知,去聲。疢,丑刃反。德慧者,德之慧。術知者,術之知。疢疾,猶災患也。言人必有疢疾,則能動心忍性,增益其所不能也。

獨孤臣孽子,其操心也危,其慮患也深,故達。」 孤臣,遠臣;孽子,庶子,皆不得於君親,而常有疢疾者也。達,謂達於事理,即所謂德慧術知也。

孟子曰:「有事君人者,事是君則為容悅者也。有安社稷臣者,以安社稷為悅者也。有民者,達可行於天下而後行之者也。有大人者,正己而物正者也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'There are persons who serve the prince; they serve the prince, that is, for the sake of his countenance and favour. There are ministers who seek the tranquillity of the State, and find their pleasure in securing that tranquillity. There are those who are the people of Heaven. They, judging that, if they were in office, they could carry out their principles, throughout the kingdom, proceed so to carry them out. There are those who are great men. They rectify themselves and others are rectified.'

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孟子曰:「有事君人者,事是君則為容悅者也。 阿殉以為容,逢迎以為悅,此鄙夫之事、妾婦之道也。

有安社稷臣者,以安社稷為悅者也。 言大臣之計安社稷,如小人之務悅其君,眷眷於此而不忘也。

有天民者,達可行於天下而後行之者也。 民者,無位之稱。以其全盡天理,乃天之民,故謂之天民。必其道可行於天下,然後行之;不然,則寧沒世不見知而不悔,不肯小用其道以殉於人也。張子曰:「必功覆斯民然後出,如伊呂之徒。」

有大人者,正己而物正者也。」 大人,德盛而上下化之,所謂「見龍在田,天下文明」者。此章言人品不同,略有四等。容悅佞臣不足言。安社稷則忠矣,然猶一國之士也。天民則非一國之士矣,然猶有意也。無意無必,惟其所在而物無不化,惟聖者能之。

孟子曰:「有三樂,而王天下不與存焉。父母俱存,兄弟無故,一樂也。仰不愧於,俯不怍於人,二樂也。得天下英才而教育之,三樂也。有三樂,而王天下不與存焉。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'The superior man has three things in which he delights, and to be ruler over the kingdom is not one of them. That his father and mother are both alive, and that the condition of his brothers affords no cause for anxiety; this is one delight. That, when looking up, he has no occasion for shame before Heaven, and, below, he has no occasion to blush before men; this is a second delight. That he can get from the whole kingdom the most talented individuals, and teach and nourish them; this is the third delight. The superior man has three things in which he delights, and to be ruler over the kingdom is not one of them.'

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孟子曰:「君子有三樂,而王天下不與存焉。 樂,音洛。王、與,皆去聲,下並同。

父母俱存,兄弟無故,一樂也。 此人所深願而不可必得者,今既得之,其樂可知。

仰不愧於天,俯不怍於人,二樂也。 程子曰:「人能克己,則仰不愧,俯不怍,心廣體胖,其樂可知,有息則餒矣。」

得天下英才而教育之,三樂也。 盡得一世明睿之才,而以所樂乎己者教而養之,則斯道之傳得之者眾,而天下後世將無不被其澤矣。聖人之心所願欲者,莫大於此,今既得之,其樂為何如哉?

君子有三樂,而王天下不與存焉。」 林氏曰:「此三樂者,一繫於天,一繫於人。其可以自致者,惟不愧不怍而已,學者可不勉哉?」

孟子曰:「廣土眾民,欲之,所樂不存焉。中天下而立,定四海之民,樂之,所不存焉。所,雖大行不加焉,雖窮居不損焉,分定故也。所,根於心。其生色也,睟然見於面,盎於背,施於四體,四體不言而喻。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Wide territory and a numerous people are desired by the superior man, but what he delights in is not here. To stand in the centre of the kingdom, and tranquillize the people within the four seas - the superior man delights in this, but the highest enjoyment of his nature is not here. What belongs by his nature to the superior man cannot be increased by the largeness of his sphere of action, nor diminished by his dwelling in poverty and retirement - for this reason that it is determinately apportioned to him by Heaven. What belongs by his nature to the superior man are benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and knowledge. These are rooted in his heart; their growth and manifestation are a mild harmony appearing in the countenance, a rich fullness in the back, and the character imparted to the four limbs. Those limbs understand to arrange themselves, without being told.'

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孟子曰:「廣土眾民,君子欲之,所樂不存焉。 樂,音洛,下同。地辟民聚,澤可遠施,故君子欲之,然未足以為樂也。

中天下而立,定四海之民,君子樂之,所性不存焉。 其道大行,無一夫不被其澤,故君子樂之,然其所得於天者則不在是也。

君子所性,雖大行不加焉,雖窮居不損焉,分定故也。 分,去聲。分者,所得於天之全體,故不以窮達而有異。

君子所性,仁義禮智根於心。其生色也,睟然見於面,盎於背,施於四體,四體不言而喻。」 睟,音粹。見,音現。盎,烏浪反。上言所性之分,與所欲所樂不同,此乃言其蘊也。仁義禮智,性之四德也。根,本也。生,發見也。睟然,清和潤澤之貌。盎,豐厚盈溢之意。施於四體,謂見於動作威儀之閒也。喻,曉也。四體不言而喻,言四體不待吾言,而自能曉吾意也。蓋氣稟清明,無物慾之累,則性之四德根本於心,其積之盛,則發而著見於外者,不待言而無不順也。程子曰:「睟面盎背,皆積盛致然。四體不言而喻,惟有德者能之。」此章言君子固欲其道之大行,然其所得於天者,則不以是而有所加損也。

孟子曰:「伯夷辟紂,居北海之濱,聞文王作興,曰:『盍歸乎來!吾聞西伯善養老者。』太公辟紂,居東海之濱,聞文王作興,曰:『盍歸乎來!吾聞西伯善養老者。』天下有善養老,則人以為己歸矣。五畝之宅,樹牆下以桑,匹婦蠶之,則老者足以衣帛矣。五母雞,二母彘,無失其時,老者足以無失肉矣。百畝之田,匹夫耕之,八口之家足以無饑矣。所謂西伯善養老者,制其田里,教之樹畜,導其妻子,使養其老。五十非帛不暖,七十非肉不飽。不暖不飽,謂之凍餒。文王之民,無凍餒之老者,此之謂也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Bo Yi, that he might avoid Zhou, was dwelling on the coast of the northern sea when he heard of the rise of king Wen. He roused himself and said, "Why should I not go and follow him? I have heard that the chief of the West knows well how to nourish the old." Tai Gong, to avoid Zhou, was dwelling on the coast of the eastern sea. When he heard of the rise of king Wen, he said, "Why should I not go and follow him? I have heard that the chief if the West knows well how to nourish the old." If there were a prince in the kingdom, who knew well how to nourish the old, all men of virtue would feel that he was the proper object for them to gather to. Around the homestead with its five mau, the space beneath the walls was planted with mulberry trees, with which the women nourished silkworms, and thus the old were able to have silk to wear. Each family had five brood hens and two brood sows, which were kept to their breeding seasons, and thus the old were able to have flesh to eat. The husbandmen cultivated their farms of 100 mu, and thus their families of eight mouths were secured against want. The expression, "The chief of the West knows well how to nourish the old," refers to his regulation of the fields and dwellings, his teaching them to plant the mulberry and nourish those animals, and his instructing the wives and children, so as to make them nourish their aged. At fifty, warmth cannot be maintained without silks, and at seventy flesh is necessary to satisfy the appetite. Persons not kept warm nor supplied with food are said to be starved and famished, but among the people of king Wen, there were no aged who were starved or famished. This is the meaning of the expression in question.'

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孟子曰:「伯夷辟紂,居北海之濱,聞文王作興,曰:『盍歸乎來!吾聞西伯善養老者。』太公辟紂,居東海之濱,聞文王作興,曰:『盍歸乎來!吾聞西伯善養老者。』天下有善養老,則仁人以為己歸矣。 辟,去聲,下同。大,他蓋反。己歸,謂己之所歸。余見前篇。

五畝之宅,樹牆下以桑,匹婦蠶之,則老者足以衣帛矣。五母雞,二母彘,無失其時,老者足以無失肉矣。百畝之田,匹夫耕之,八口之家足以無饑矣。 衣,去聲。此文王之政也。一家養母雞五,母彘二也。余見前篇。

所謂西伯善養老者,制其田里,教之樹畜,導其妻子,使養其老。五十非帛不暖,七十非肉不飽。不暖不飽,謂之凍餒。文王之民,無凍餒之老者,此之謂也。」 田,謂百畝之田。里,謂五畝之宅。樹,謂耕桑。畜,謂雞彘也。趙氏曰:「善養老者,教導之使可以養其老耳,非家賜而人益之也。」

孟子曰:「易其田疇,薄其稅斂,民可使富也。食之以時,用之以,財不可勝用也。民非水火不生活,昏暮叩人之門戶,求水火,無弗與者,至足矣。聖人治天下,使有菽粟如水火。菽粟如水火,而民焉有不者乎?」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Let it be seen to that their fields of grain and hemp are well cultivated, and make the taxes on them light - so the people may be made rich. Let it be seen to that the people use their resources of food seasonably, and expend their wealth only on the prescribed ceremonies - so their wealth will be more than can be consumed. The people cannot live without water and fire, yet if you knock at a man's door in the dusk of the evening, and ask for water and fire, there is no man who will not give them, such is the abundance of these things. A sage governs the kingdom so as to cause pulse and grain to be as abundant as water and fire. When pulse and grain are as abundant as water and fire, how shall the people be other than virtuous?'

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孟子曰:「易其田疇,薄其稅斂,民可使富也。 易、斂,皆去聲。易,治也。疇,耕治之田也。

食之以時,用之以禮,財不可勝用也。 勝,音升。教民節儉,則財用足也。

民非水火不生活,昏暮叩人之門戶,求水火,無弗與者,至足矣。聖人治天下,使有菽粟如水火。菽粟如水火,而民焉有不仁者乎?」 焉,於虔反。水火,民之所急,宜其愛之而反不愛者,多故也。尹氏曰:「言禮義生於富足,民無常產,則無常心矣。」

孟子曰:「孔子登東山而小魯,登太山而小天下。故觀於海者難為水,游於聖人之門者難為言。觀水有術,必觀其瀾。日月有明,容光必照焉。流水之為物也,不盈科不行;之志於道也,不成章不達。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Confucius ascended the eastern hill, and Lu appeared to him small. He ascended the Tai mountain, and all beneath the heavens appeared to him small. So he who has contemplated the sea, finds it difficult to think anything of other waters, and he who has wandered in the gate of the sage, finds it difficult to think anything of the words of others. There is an art in the contemplation of water. It is necessary to look at it as foaming in waves. The sun and moon being possessed of brilliancy, their light admitted even through an orifice illuminates. Flowing water is a thing which does not proceed till it has filled the hollows in its course. The student who has set his mind on the doctrines of the sage, does not advance to them but by completing one lesson after another.'

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孟子曰:「孔子登東山而小魯,登太山而小天下。故觀於海者難為水,游於聖人之門者難為言。 此言聖人之道大也。東山,蓋魯城東之高山,而太山則又高矣。此言所處益高,則其視下益小;所見既大,則其小者不足觀也。難為水,難為言,猶仁不可為眾之意。

觀水有術,必觀其瀾。日月有明,容光必照焉。 此言道之有本也。瀾,水之湍急處也。明者,光之體;光者,明之用也。觀水之瀾,則知其源之有本矣;觀日月於容光之隙無不照,則知其明之有本矣。

流水之為物也,不盈科不行;君子之志於道也,不成章不達。」 言學當以漸,乃能至也。成章,所積者厚,而文章外見也。達者,足於此而通於彼也。此章言聖人之道大而有本,學之者必以其漸,乃能至也。

孟子曰:「雞鳴而起,孳孳為善者,舜之徒也。雞鳴而起,孳孳為利者,跖之徒也。欲知舜與跖之分,無他,利與善之閒也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'He who rises at cock-crowing and addresses himself earnestly to the practice of virtue, is a disciple of Shun. He who rises at cock-crowing, and addresses himself earnestly to the pursuit of gain, is a disciple of Zhi. If you want to know what separates Shun from Zhi, it is simply this: the interval between the thought of gain and the thought of virtue.'

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孟子曰:「雞鳴而起,孳孳為善者,舜之徒也。 孳孳,勤勉之意。言雖未至於聖人,亦是聖人之徒也。

雞鳴而起,孳孳為利者,跖之徒也。 跖,盜跖也。

欲知舜與跖之分,無他,利與善之閒也。」 程子曰:「言閒者,謂相去不遠,所爭毫末耳。善與利,公私而已矣。纔出於善,便以利言也。」楊氏曰:「舜跖之相去遠矣,而其分,乃在利善之閒而已,是豈可以不謹?然講之不熟,見之不明,未有不以利為義者,又學者所當深察也。」或問:「雞鳴而起,若未接物,如何為善?」程子曰:「只主於敬,便是為善。」

孟子曰:「楊子取為我,拔一毛而利天下,不為也。墨子兼愛,摩頂放踵利天下,為之。子莫執中,執中為近之,執中無權,猶執一也。所惡執一者,為其賊道也,舉一而廢百也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'The principle of the philosopher Yang was "Each one for himself." Though he might have benefited the whole kingdom by plucking out a single hair, he would not have done it. The philosopher Mo loves all equally. If by rubbing smooth his whole body from the crown to the heel, he could have benefited the kingdom, he would have done it. Zi Mo holds a medium between these. By holding that medium, he is nearer the right. But by holding it without leaving room for the exigency of circumstances, it becomes like their holding their one point. The reason why I hate that holding to one point is the injury it does to the way of right principle. It takes up one point and disregards a hundred others.'

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孟子曰:「楊子取為我,拔一毛而利天下,不為也。 為我之為,去聲。楊子,名朱。取者,僅足之意。取為我者,僅足於為我而已,不及為人也。列子稱其言曰,「伯成子高不以一毫利物」,是也。

墨子兼愛,摩頂放踵利天下,為之。 放,上聲。墨子,名翟。兼愛,無所不愛也。摩頂,摩突其頂也。放,至也。

子莫執中,執中為近之,執中無權,猶執一也。 子莫,魯之賢人也。知楊墨之失中也,故度於二者之閒而執其中。近,近道也。權,稱錘也,所以稱物之輕重而取中也。執中而無權,則膠於一定之中而不知變,是亦執一而已矣。程子曰:「中字最難識,須是默識心通。且試言一廳,則中央為中;一家,則廳非中而堂為中;一國,則堂非中而國之中為中,推此類可見矣。」又曰:「中不可執也,識得則事事物物皆有自然之中,不待安排,安排著則不中矣。」

所惡執一者,為其賊道也,舉一而廢百也。」 惡、為,皆去聲。賊,害也。為我害仁,兼愛害義,執中者害於時中,皆舉一而廢百者也。此章言道之所貴者中,中之所貴者權。楊氏曰:「禹稷三過其門而不入,苟不當其可,則與墨子無異。顏子在陋巷,不改其樂,苟不當其可,則與楊氏無異。子莫執為我兼愛之中而無權,鄉鄰有斗而不知閉戶,同室有斗而不知救之,是亦猶執一耳,故孟子以為賊道。禹、稷、顏回,易地則皆然,以其有權也;不然,則是亦楊墨而已矣。

孟子曰:「饑者甘食,渴者甘飲,是未得飲食之正也,饑渴害之也。豈惟口腹有饑渴之害,人心亦皆有害。人能無以饑渴之害為心害,則不及人不為憂矣。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'The hungry think any food sweet, and the thirsty think the same of any drink, and thus they do not get the right taste of what they eat and drink. The hunger and thirst, in fact, injure their palate. And is it only the mouth and belly which are injured by hunger and thirst? Men's minds are also injured by them. If a man can prevent the evils of hunger and thirst from being any evils to his mind, he need not have any sorrow about not being equal to other men.'

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孟子曰:「饑者甘食,渴者甘飲,是未得飲食之正也,饑渴害之也。豈惟口腹有饑渴之害,人心亦皆有害。 口腹為饑渴所害,故於飲食不暇擇,而失其正味;人心為貧賤所害,故於富貴不暇擇,而失其正理。

人能無以饑渴之害為心害,則不及人不為憂矣。」 人能不以貧賤之故而動其心,則過人遠矣。

孟子曰:「柳下惠不以三公易其介。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Hui of Liu Xia would not for the three highest offices of State have changed his firm purpose of life.'

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介,有分辨之意。柳下惠進不隱賢,必以其道,遺佚不怨,阨窮不憫,直道事人,至於三黜,是其介也。此章言柳下惠和而不流,與孔子論夷齊不念舊惡意正相類,皆聖賢微顯闡幽之意也。

孟子曰:「有為者辟若掘井,掘井九軔而不及泉,猶為棄井也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'A man with definite aims to be accomplished may be compared to one digging a well. To dig the well to a depth of seventy-two cubits, and stop without reaching the spring, is after all throwing away the well.'

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辟,讀作譬。軔,音刃,與仞同。八尺為仞。言鑿井雖深,然未及泉而止,猶為自棄其井也。呂侍講曰:「仁不如堯,孝不如舜,學不如孔子,終未入於聖人之域,終未至於天道,未免為半塗而廢、自棄前功也。」

孟子曰:「堯舜,之也;湯武,身之也;五霸,假之也。久假而不歸,惡知其非有也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Benevolence and righteousness were natural to Yao and Shun. Tang and Wu made them their own. The five chiefs of the princes feigned them. Having borrowed them long and not returned them, how could it be known they did not own them?'

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孟子曰:「堯舜,性之也;湯武,身之也;五霸,假之也。 堯舜天性渾全,不假修習。湯武修身體道,以復其性。五霸則假借仁義之名,以求濟其貪慾之私耳。

久假而不歸,惡知其非有也。」 惡,平聲。歸,還也。有,實有也。言竊其名以終身,而不自知其非真有。或曰:「蓋歎世人莫覺其偽者。」亦通。舊說,久假不歸,即為真有,則誤矣。尹氏曰:「性之者,與道一也;身之者,履之也,及其成功則一也。五霸則假之而已,是以功烈如彼其卑也。」

公孫丑曰:「伊尹曰:『予不狎於不順。』放太甲於桐,民大悅。太甲賢。又反之,民大悅。賢者之為人臣也,其君不賢,則固可放與?」孟子曰:「有伊尹之志,則可;無伊尹之志,則篡也。」

Legge

Gong Sun Chou said, 'Yi Yin said, "I cannot be near and see him so disobedient to reason," and therewith he banished Tai Jia to Tong. The people were much pleased. When Tai Jia became virtuous, he brought him back, and the people were again much pleased. When worthies are ministers, may they indeed banish their sovereigns in this way when they are not virtuous?'

Mencius replied, 'If they have the same purpose as Yi Yin, they may. If they have not the same purpose, it would be usurpation.'

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公孫丑曰:「伊尹曰:『予不狎於不順。』放太甲於桐,民大悅。太甲賢。又反之,民大悅。 子不狎於不順,太甲篇文。狎,習見也。不順,言太甲所為,不順義理也。余見前篇。

賢者之為人臣也,其君不賢,則固可放與?」 與,平聲。

孟子曰:「有伊尹之志,則可;無伊尹之志,則篡也。」 伊尹之志,公天下以為心而無一毫之私者也。

公孫丑曰:「詩曰『不素餐兮』,之不耕而食,何也?」孟子曰:「居是國也,其君用之,則安富尊榮;其子弟從之,則弟忠。『不素餐兮』,孰大於是?」

Legge

Gong Sun Chou said, 'It is said, in the Book of Poetry, "He will not eat the bread of idleness!" How is it that we see superior men eating without labouring?'

Mencius replied, 'When a superior man resides in a country, if its sovereign employ his counsels, he comes to tranquillity, wealth and glory. If the young in it follow his instructions, they become filial, obedient to their elders, true-hearted, and faithful. What greater example can there be than this of not eating the bread of idleness?'

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餐,七丹反。詩魏國風伐檀之篇。素,空也。無功而食祿,謂之素餐,此與告陳相、彭更之意同。

王子墊問曰:「士何事?」孟子曰:「尚志。」曰:「何謂尚志?」曰:「而已矣。殺一無罪,非也;非其有而取之,非也。居惡在?是也;路惡在?是也。居由,大人之事備矣。」

Legge

The king's son, Dian, asked Mencius, saying, 'What is the business of the unemployed scholar?'

Mencius replied, 'To exalt his aim.'

Tien asked again, 'What do you mean by exalting the aim?'

The answer was, 'Setting it simply on benevolence and righteousness. He thinks how to put a single innocent person to death is contrary to benevolence; how to take what one has not a right to is contrary to righteousness; that one's dwelling should be benevolence; and one's path should be righteousness. Where else should he dwell? What other path should he pursue? When benevolence is the dwelling-place of the heart, and righteousness the path of the life, the business of a great man is complete.'

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王子墊問曰:「士何事?」 墊,丁念反。墊,齊王之子也。上則公卿大夫,下則農工商賈,皆有所事;而士居其閒,獨無所事,故王子問之也。

孟子曰:「尚志。」 尚,高尚也。志者,心之所之也。士既未得行公、卿、大夫之道,又不當為農、工、商、賈之業,則高尚其志而已。

曰:「何謂尚志?」曰:「仁義而已矣。殺一無罪,非仁也;非其有而取之,非義也。居惡在?仁是也;路惡在?義是也。居仁由義,大人之事備矣。」 惡,平聲。非仁非義之事,雖小不為;而所居所由,無不在於仁義,此士所以尚其志也。大人,謂公、卿、大夫。言士雖未得大人之位,而其志如此,則大人之事體用已全。若小人之事,則固非所當為也。

孟子曰:「仲子,不與之齊國而弗受,人皆信之,是舍簞食豆羹之也。人莫大焉亡親戚、君臣、上下。以其小者信其大者,奚可哉?」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Supposing that the kingdom of Qi were offered, contrary to righteousness, to Chen Zhong, he would not receive it, and all people believe in him, as a man of the highest worth. But this is only the righteousness which declines a dish of rice or a plate of soup. A man can have no greater crimes than to disown his parents and relatives, and the relations of sovereign and minister, superiors and inferiors. How can it be allowed to give a man credit for the great excellences because he possesses a small one?'

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舍,音捨。食,音嗣。仲子,陳仲子也。言仲子設若非義而與之齊國,必不肯受。齊人皆信其賢,然此但小廉耳。其辟兄離母,不食君祿,無人道之大倫,罪莫大焉。豈可以小廉信其大節,而遂以為賢哉?

桃應問曰:「舜為天子,皋陶為士,瞽瞍殺人,則如之何?」孟子曰:「執之而已矣。」「然則舜不禁與?」曰:「夫舜惡得而禁之?夫有所受之也。」「然則舜如之何?」曰:「舜視棄天下,猶棄敝蹝也。竊負而逃,遵海濱而處,終身欣然,樂而忘天下。」

Legge

Tao Ying asked, saying, 'Shun being sovereign, and Gao Yao chief minister of justice, if Gu Sou had murdered a man, what would have been done in the case?'

Mencius said, 'Gao Yao would simply have apprehended him.'

'But would not Shun have forbidden such a thing?'

'Indeed, how could Shun have forbidden it? Gao Yao had received the law from a proper source.'

'In that case what would Shun have done?'

'Shun would have regarded abandoning the kingdom as throwing away a worn-out sandal. He would privately have taken his father on his back, and retired into concealment, living some where along the sea-coast. There he would have been all his life, cheerful and happy, forgetting the kingdom.'

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桃應問曰:「舜為天子,皋陶為士,瞽瞍殺人,則如之何?」 桃應,孟子弟子也。其意以為舜雖愛父,而不可以私害公;皋陶雖執法,而不可以刑天子之父。故設此問,以觀聖賢用心之所極,非以為真有此事也。

孟子曰:「執之而已矣。」 言皋陶之心,知有法而已,不知有天子之父也。

「然則舜不禁與?」 與,平聲。桃應問也。

曰:「夫舜惡得而禁之?夫有所受之也。」 夫,音扶。惡,平聲。言皋陶之法,有所傳受,非所敢私,雖天子之命亦不得而廢之也。

「然則舜如之何?」 桃應問也。

曰:「舜視棄天下,猶棄敝蹝也。竊負而逃,遵海濱而處,終身欣然,樂而忘天下。」 蹝,音徙。欣,與欣同。樂,音洛。蹝,草履也。遵,循也。言舜之心。知有父而已,不知有天下也。孟子嘗言舜視天下猶草芥,而惟順於父母可以解憂,與此意互相發。此章言為士者,但知有法,而不知天子父之為尊;為子者,但知有父,而不知天下之為大。蓋其所以為心者,莫非天理之極,人倫之至。學者察此而有得焉,則不待較計論量,而天下無難處之事矣。

孟子自范之齊,望見齊王之子。喟然歎曰:「居移,養移體,大哉居乎!夫非盡人之子與?」孟子曰:「王子宮室、車馬、衣服多與人同,而王子若彼者,其居使之然也;況居天下之廣居者乎?魯君之宋,呼於垤澤之門。守者曰:『此非吾君也,何其聲之似我君也?』此無他,居相似也。」

Legge

Mencius, going from Fan to Qi, saw the king of Qi's son at a distance, and said with a deep sigh, 'One's position alters the air, just as the nurture affects the body. Great is the influence of position! Are we not all men's sons in this respect?'

Mencius said, 'The residence, the carriages and horses, and the dress of the king's son, are mostly the same as those of other men. That he looks so is occasioned by his position. How much more should a peculiar air distinguish him whose position is in the wide house of the world! 'When the prince of Lu went to Song, he called out at the Die Shi gate, and the keeper said, "This is not our prince. How is it that his voice is so like that of our prince?" This was occasioned by nothing but the correspondence of their positions.'

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孟子自范之齊,望見齊王之子。喟然歎曰:「居移氣,養移體,大哉居乎!夫非盡人之子與?」 夫,音扶。與,平聲。范,齊邑。居,謂所處之位。養,奉養也。言人之居處,所繫甚大,王子亦人子耳,特以所居不同,故所養不同而其氣體有異也。

孟子曰: 張鄒皆云羨文也。

「王子宮室、車馬、衣服多與人同,而王子若彼者,其居使之然也;況居天下之廣居者乎? 廣居,見前篇。尹氏曰:「睟然見於面,盎於背,居天下之廣居者然也。」

魯君之宋,呼於垤澤之門。守者曰:『此非吾君也,何其聲之似我君也?』此無他,居相似也。」 呼,去聲。垤澤,宋城門名也。孟子又引此事為證。

孟子曰:「食而弗愛,豕交之也;愛而不敬,獸畜之也。恭敬者,幣之未將者也。恭敬而無實,不可虛拘。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'To feed a scholar and not love him, is to treat him as a pig. To love him and not respect him, is to keep him as a domestic animal. Honouring and respecting are what exist before any offering of gifts. If there be honouring and respecting without the reality of them, a superior man may not be retained by such empty demonstrations.'

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孟子曰:「食而弗愛,豕交之也;愛而不敬,獸畜之也。 食,音嗣。畜,許六反。交,接也。畜,養也。獸,謂犬馬之屬。

恭敬者,幣之未將者也。 將,猶奉也。詩曰:「承筐是將。」程子曰:「恭敬雖因威儀幣帛而後發見,然幣之未將時,已有此恭敬之心,非因幣帛而後有也。」

恭敬而無實,君子不可虛拘。」 此言當時諸侯之待賢者,特以幣帛為恭敬,而無其實也。拘,留也。

孟子曰:「形色,也;惟聖人,然後可以踐形。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'The bodily organs with their functions belong to our Heaven-conferred nature. But a man must be a sage before he can satisfy the design of his bodily organization.'

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人之有形有色,無不各有自然之理,所謂天性也。踐,如踐言之踐。蓋眾人有是形,而不能盡其理,故無以踐其形;惟聖人有是形,而又能盡其理,然後可以踐其形而無歉也。程子曰:「此言聖人盡得人道而能充其形也。蓋人得天地之正氣而生,與萬物不同。既為人,須盡得人理,然後稱其名。眾人有之而不知,賢人踐之而未盡,能充其形,惟聖人也。」楊氏曰:「天生烝民,有物有則。物者,形色也。則者,性也。各盡其則,則可以踐形矣。」

齊宣王欲短喪。公孫丑曰:「為期之喪,猶愈於已乎?」孟子曰:「是猶或紾其兄之臂,子謂之姑徐徐云爾,亦教之弟而已矣。」王子有其母死者,其傅為之請數月之喪。公孫丑曰:「若此者,何如也?」曰:「是欲終之而不可得也。雖加一日愈於已,謂夫莫之禁而弗為者也。

Legge

The king Xuan of Qi wanted to shorten the period of mourning. Gong Sun Chou said, 'To have one whole year's mourning is better than doing away with it altogether.'

Mencius said, 'That is just as if there were one twisting the arm of his elder brother, and you were merely to say to him "Gently, gently, if you please." Your only course should be to teach such an one filial piety and fraternal duty.'

At that time, the mother of one of the king's sons had died, and his tutor asked for him that he might be allowed to observe a few months' mourning. Gong Sun Chou asked, 'What do you say of this?'

Mencius replied, 'This is a case where the party wishes to complete the whole period, but finds it impossible to do so. The addition of even a single day is better than not mourning at all. I spoke of the case where there was no hindrance, and the party neglected the thing itself.'

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齊宣王欲短喪。公孫丑曰:「為期之喪,猶愈於已乎?」 已,猶止也。

孟子曰:「是猶或紾其兄之臂,子謂之姑徐徐云爾,亦教之孝弟而已矣。」 紾,之忍反。紾,戾也。教之以孝弟之道,則彼當自知兄之不可戾,而喪之不可短矣。孔子曰:「子生三年,然後免於父母之懷,予也有三年之愛於其父母乎?」所謂教之以孝弟者如此。蓋示之以至情之不能已者,非強之也。

王子有其母死者,其傅為之請數月之喪。公孫丑曰:「若此者,何如也?」 為,去聲。陳氏曰:「王子所生之母死,厭於嫡母而不敢終喪。其傅為請於王,欲使得行數月之喪也。時又適有此事,丑問如此者,是非何如?」按儀禮:「公子為其母練冠、麻衣、縓緣,既葬除之。」疑當時此禮已廢,或既葬而未忍即除,故請之也。

曰:「是欲終之而不可得也。雖加一日愈於已,謂夫莫之禁而弗為者也。 夫,音扶。言王子欲終喪而不可得,其傅為請,雖止得加一日,猶勝不加。我前所譏,乃謂夫莫之禁而自不為者耳。此章言三年通喪,天經地義,不容私意有所短長。示之至情,則不肖者有以企而及之矣。

孟子曰:「之所以教者五:有如時雨化之者,有成德者,有達財者,有答問者,有私淑艾者。此五者,之所以教也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'There are five ways in which the superior man effects his teaching. There are some on whom his influence descends like seasonable rain. There are some whose virtue he perfects, and some of whose talents he assists the development. There are some whose inquiries he answers. There are some who privately cultivate and correct themselves. These five ways are the methods in which the superior man effects his teaching.'

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孟子曰:「君子之所以教者五: 下文五者,蓋因人品高下,或相去遠近先後之不同。

有如時雨化之者, 時雨,及時之雨也。草木之生,播種封植,人力已至而未能自化,所少者,雨露之滋耳。及此時而雨之,則其化速矣。教人之妙,亦猶是也,若孔子之於顏曾是已。

有成德者,有達財者, 財,與材同。此各因其所長而教之者也。成德,如孔子之於冉閔;達財,如孔子之於由賜。

有答問者, 就所問而答之,若孔孟之於樊遲、萬章也。

有私淑艾者。 艾,音乂。私,竊也。淑,善也。艾,治也。人或不能及門受業,但聞君子之道於人,而竊以善治其身,是亦君子教誨之所及,若孔孟之於陳亢、夷之是也。孟子亦曰:「予未得為孔子徒也,予私淑諸人也。」

此五者,君子之所以教也。」 聖賢施教,各因其材,小以成小,大以成大,無棄人也。

公孫丑曰:「道則高矣,美矣,宜若登然,似不可及也。何不使彼為可幾及而日孳孳也?」孟子曰:「大匠不為拙工改廢繩墨,羿不為拙射變其彀率。引而不發,躍如也。中道而立,能者從之。」

Legge

Gong Sun Chou said, 'Lofty are your principles and admirable, but to learn them may well be likened to ascending the heavens - something which cannot be reached. Why not adapt your teaching so as to cause learners to consider them attainable, and so daily exert themselves!'

Mencius said, 'A great artificer does not, for the sake of a stupid workman, alter or do away with the marking-line. Yi did not, for the sake of a stupid archer, charge his rule for drawing the bow. The superior man draws the bow, but does not discharge the arrow, having seemed to leap with it to the mark; and he there stands exactly in the middle of the path. Those who are able, follow him.'

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公孫丑曰:「道則高矣,美矣,宜若登天然,似不可及也。何不使彼為可幾及而日孳孳也?」 幾,音機。

孟子曰:「大匠不為拙工改廢繩墨,羿不為拙射變其彀率。 為,去聲。彀,古候反。率,音律。彀率,彎弓之限也。言教人者,皆有不可易之法,不容自貶以殉學者之不能也。

君子引而不發,躍如也。中道而立,能者從之。」 引,引弓也。發,發矢也。躍如,如踴躍而出也。因上文彀率,而言君子教人,但授以學之之法,而不告以得之之妙,如射者之引弓而不發矢,然其所不告者,已如踴躍而見於前矣。中者,無過不及之謂。中道而立,言其非難非易。能者從之,言學者當自勉也。此章言道有定體,教有成法;卑不可抗,高不可貶;語不能顯,默不能藏。

孟子曰:「天下有道,以道殉身;天下無道,以身殉道。未聞以道殉乎人者也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'When right principles prevail throughout the kingdom, one's principles must appear along with one's person. When right principles disappear from the kingdom, one's person must vanish along with one's principles. I have not heard of one's principles being dependent for their manifestation on other men.'

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孟子曰:「天下有道,以道殉身;天下無道,以身殉道。 殉,如殉葬之殉,以死隨物之名也。身出則道在必行,道屈則身在必退,以死相從而不離也。

未聞以道殉乎人者也。」 以道從人,妾婦之道。

公都子曰:「滕更之在門也,若在所。而不答,何也?」孟子曰:「挾貴而問,挾賢而問,挾長而問,挾有勳勞而問,挾故而問,皆所不答也。滕更有二焉。」

Legge

The disciple Gong Du said, 'When Geng of Tang made his appearance in your school, it seemed proper that a polite consideration should be paid to him, and yet you did not answer him. Why was that?'

Mencius replied, 'I do not answer him who questions me presuming on his nobility, nor him who presumes on his talents, nor him who presumes on his age, nor him who presumes on services performed to me, nor him who presumes on old acquaintance. Two of those things were chargeable on Geng of Tang.'

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公都子曰:「滕更之在門也,若在所禮。而不答,何也?」 更,平聲。趙氏曰:「滕更,滕君之弟,來學者也。」

孟子曰:「挾貴而問,挾賢而問,挾長而問,挾有勳勞而問,挾故而問,皆所不答也。滕更有二焉。」 長,上聲。趙氏曰:「二,謂挾貴、挾賢也。」尹氏曰:「有所挾,則受道之心不專,所以不答也。」此言君子雖誨人不倦,又惡夫意之不誠者。

孟子曰:「於不可已而已者,無所不已;於所厚者薄,無所不薄也。其進銳者,其退速。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'He who stops short where stopping is acknowledged to be not allowable, will stop short in everything. He who behaves shabbily to those whom he ought to treat well, will behave shabbily to all. He who advances with precipitation will retire with speed.'

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孟子曰:「於不可已而已者,無所不已;於所厚者薄,無所不薄也。 已,止也。不可止,謂所不得不為者也。所厚,所當厚者也。此言不及者之弊。

其進銳者,其退速。」 進銳者,用心太過,其氣易衰,故退速。三者之弊,理勢必然,雖過不及之不同,然卒同歸於廢弛。

孟子曰:「之於物也,愛之而弗;於民也,之而弗親。親親而民,民而愛物。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'In regard to inferior creatures, the superior man is kind to them, but not loving. In regard to people generally, he is loving to them, but not affectionate. He is affectionate to his parents, and lovingly disposed to people generally. He is lovingly disposed to people generally, and kind to creatures.'

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物,謂禽獸草木。愛,謂取之有時,用之有節。程子曰:「仁,推己及人,如老吾老以及人之老,於民則可,於物則不可。統而言之則皆仁,分而言之則有序。」楊氏曰:「其分不同,故所施不能無差等,所謂理一而分殊者也。」尹氏曰:「何以有是差等?一本故也,無偽也。」

孟子曰:「知者無不知也,當務之為急;者無不愛也,急親賢之為務。堯舜之知而不遍物,急先務也;堯舜之不遍愛人,急親賢也。不能三年之喪,而緦小功之察;放飯流歠,而問無齒決,是之謂不知務。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'The wise embrace all knowledge, but they are most earnest about what is of the greatest importance. The benevolent embrace all in their love, but what they consider of the greatest importance is to cultivate an earnest affection for the virtuous. Even the wisdom of Yao and Shun did not extend to everything, but they attended earnestly to what was important. Their benevolence did not show itself in acts of kindness to every man, but they earnestly cultivated an affection for the virtuous. Not to be able to keep the three years' mourning, and to be very particular about that of three months, or that of five months; to eat immoderately and swill down the soup, and at the same time to inquire about the precept not to tear the meat with the teeth; such things show what I call an ignorance of what is most important.

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孟子曰:「知者無不知也,當務之為急;仁者無不愛也,急親賢之為務。堯舜之知而不遍物,急先務也;堯舜之仁不遍愛人,急親賢也。 知者之知,並去聲。知者固無不知,然常以所當務者為急,則事無不治,而其為知也大矣;仁者固無不愛,然常急於親賢,則恩無不洽,而其為仁也博矣。

不能三年之喪,而緦小功之察;放飯流歠,而問無齒決,是之謂不知務。」 飯,扶晚反。歠,昌悅反。三年之喪,服之重者也。緦麻三月,小功五月,服之輕者也。察,致詳也。放飯,大飯。流歠,長歠,不敬之大者也。齒決,嚙斷乾肉,不敬之小者也。問,講求之意。此章言君子之於道,識其全體,則心不狹;知所先後,則事有序。豐氏曰:「智不急於先務,雖遍知人之所知、遍能人之所能,徒弊精神,而無益於天下之治矣。仁不急於親賢,雖有仁民愛物之心,小人在位,無由下達,聰明日蔽於上,而惡政日加於下,此孟子所謂不知務也。