Mencius

孟
子
Mèng
zǐ
Mencius · ~300 BCE

盡心下 Book 7B · Jìn xīn xià

孟子曰:「不哉,梁惠王也!者以其所愛及其所不愛,不者以其所不愛及其所愛。」公孫丑曰:「何謂也?」「梁惠王以土地之故,糜爛其民而戰之,大敗,將復之,恐不能勝,故驅其所愛子弟以殉之,是之謂以其所不愛及其所愛也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'The opposite indeed of benevolent was the king Hui of Liang! The benevolent, beginning with what they care for, proceed to what they do not care for. Those who are the opposite of benevolent, beginning with what they do not care for, proceed to what they care for.'

Gong Sun Chou said, 'What do you mean?'

Mencius answered, 'The king Hui of Liang, for the matter of territory, tore and destroyed his people, leading them to battle. Sustaining a great defeat, he would engage again, and afraid lest they should not be able to secure the victory, urged his son whom he loved till he sacrificed him with them. This is what I call "beginning with what they do not care for, and proceeding to what they care for."'

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孟子曰:「不仁哉,梁惠王也!仁者以其所愛及其所不愛,不仁者以其所不愛及其所愛。」 親親而仁民,仁民而愛物,所謂以其所愛及其所不愛也。

公孫丑曰:「何謂也?」「梁惠王以土地之故,糜爛其民而戰之,大敗,將復之,恐不能勝,故驅其所愛子弟以殉之,是之謂以其所不愛及其所愛也。」 梁惠王以下,孟子答辭也。糜爛其民,使之戰鬥,糜爛其血肉也。復之,復戰也。子弟,謂太子申也。以土地之故及其民,以民之故及其子,皆以其所不愛及其所愛也。此承前篇之末三章之意,言仁人之恩,自內及外;不仁之禍,由疏逮親。

孟子曰:「春秋無戰。彼善於此,則有之矣。征者上伐下也,敵國不相征也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'In the "Spring and Autumn" there are no righteous wars. Instances indeed there are of one war better than another. "Correction" is when the supreme authority punishes its subjects by force of arms. Hostile States do not correct one another.'

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孟子曰:「春秋無義戰。彼善於此,則有之矣。 春秋每書諸侯戰伐之事,必加譏貶,以著其擅興之罪,無有以為合於義而許之者。但就中彼善於此者則有之,如召陵之師之類是也。

征者上伐下也,敵國不相征也。」 征,所以正人也。諸侯有罪,則天子討而正之,此春秋所以無義戰也。

孟子曰:「盡信書,則不如無書。吾於武成,取二三策而已矣。人無敵於天下。以至伐至不,而何其血之流杵也?」

Legge

Mencius said, 'It would be better to be without the Book of History than to give entire credit to it. In the "Completion of the War," I select two or three passages only, which I believe. "The benevolent man has no enemy under heaven. When the prince the most benevolent was engaged against him who was the most the opposite, how could the blood of the people have flowed till it floated the pestles of the mortars?"'

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孟子曰:「盡信書,則不如無書。 程子曰:「載事之辭,容有重稱而過其實者,學者當識其義而已;苟執於辭,則時或有害於義,不如無書之愈也。」

吾於武成,取二三策而已矣。 武成,周書篇名,武王伐紂歸而記事之書也。策,竹簡也。取其二三策之言,其餘不可盡信也。程子曰:「取其奉天伐暴之意,反政施仁之法而已。」

仁人無敵於天下。以至仁伐至不仁,而何其血之流杵也?」 杵,舂杵也。或作鹵,楯也。武成言武王伐紂,紂之「前徒倒戈,攻於後以北,血流漂杵」。孟子言此則其不可信者。然書本意,乃謂商人自相殺,非謂武王殺之也。孟子之設是言,懼後世之惑,且長不仁之心耳。

孟子曰:「有人曰:『我善為陳,我善為戰。』大罪也。國君好,天下無敵焉。南面而征北狄怨,東面而征西夷怨。曰:『奚為後我?』武王之伐殷也,革車三百兩,虎賁三千人。王曰:『無畏!寧爾也,非敵百姓也。』若崩厥角稽首。征之為言正也,各欲正己也,焉用戰?」

Legge

Mencius said, 'There are men who say "I am skilful at marshalling troops, I am skilful at conducting a battle!" They are great criminals. If the ruler of a State love benevolence, he will have no enemy in the kingdom. When Tang was executing his work of correction in the south, the rude tribes on the north murmured. When he was executing it in the east, the rude tribes on the west murmured. Their cry was "Why does he make us last?" When king Wu punished Yin, he had only three hundred chariots of war, and three thousand life-guards. The king said, "Do not fear. Let me give you repose. I am no enemy to the people!" On this, they bowed their heads to the earth, like the horns of animals falling off. "Royal correction" is but another word for rectifying. Each State wishing itself to be corrected, what need is there for fighting?'

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孟子曰:「有人曰:『我善為陳,我善為戰。』大罪也。 陳,去聲。制行伍曰陳,交兵曰戰。

國君好仁,天下無敵焉。 好,去聲。

南面而征北狄怨,東面而征西夷怨。曰:『奚為後我?』 此引湯之事以明之,解見前篇。

武王之伐殷也,革車三百兩,虎賁三千人。 兩,去聲。賁,音奔。又以武王之事明之也。兩,車數,一車兩輪也。千,書序作百。

王曰:『無畏!寧爾也,非敵百姓也。』若崩厥角稽首。 書太誓文與此小異。孟子之意當云:王謂商人曰:無畏我也。我來伐紂,本為安寧汝,非敵商之百姓也。於是商人稽首至地,如角之崩也。

征之為言正也,各欲正己也,焉用戰?」 焉,於虔反。民為暴君所虐,皆欲仁者來正己之國也。

孟子曰:「梓匠輪輿能與人規矩,不能使人巧。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'A carpenter or a carriage-maker may give a man the circle and square, but cannot make him skilful in the use of them.'

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尹氏曰:「規矩,法度可告者也。巧則在其人,雖大匠亦末如之何也已。蓋下學可以言傳,上達必由心悟,莊周所論斲輪之意蓋如此。」

孟子曰:「舜之飯糗茹草也,若將終身焉;及其為天子也,被袗衣,鼓琴,二女果,若固有之。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Shun's manner of eating his parched grain and herbs was as if he were to be doing so all his life. When he became sovereign, and had the embroidered robes to wear, the lute to play, and the two daughters of Yao to wait on him, he was as if those things belonged to him as a matter of course.'

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飯,上聲。糗,去久反。茹,音汝。袗,之忍反。果,說文作婐,烏果反。飯,食也。糗,干糒也。茹,亦食也。袗,畫衣也。二女,堯二女也。果,女侍也。言聖人之心,不以貧賤而有慕於外,不以富貴而有動於中,隨遇而安,無預於己,所性分定故也。

孟子曰:「吾今而後知殺人親之重也:殺人之父,人亦殺其父;殺人之兄,人亦殺其兄。然則非自殺之也,一間耳。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'From this time forth I know the heavy consequences of killing a man's near relations. When a man kills another's father, that other will kill his father; when a man kills another's elder brother, that other will kill his elder brother. So he does not himself indeed do the act, but there is only an interval between him and it.'

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間,去聲。言吾今而後知者,必有所為而感發也。一間者,我往彼來,間一人耳,其實與自害其親無異也。范氏曰:「知此則愛敬人之親,人亦愛敬其親矣。」

孟子曰:「古之為關也,將以禦暴。今之為關也,將以為暴。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Anciently, the establishment of the frontier-gates was to guard against violence. Nowadays, it is to exercise violence.'

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孟子曰:「古之為關也,將以禦暴。 譏察非常。

今之為關也,將以為暴。」 徵稅出入。范氏曰:「古之耕者什一,後世或收大半之稅,此以賦斂為暴也。文王之囿,與民同之;齊宣王之囿,為阱國中,此以園囿為暴也。後世為暴,不止於關,若使孟子用於諸侯,必行文王之政,凡此之類,皆不終日而改也。」

孟子曰:「身不行道,不行於妻子;使人不以道,不能行於妻子。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'If a man himself do not walk in the right path, it will not be walked in even by his wife and children. If he order men according to what is not the right way, he will not be able to get the obedience of even his wife and children.'

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身不行道者,以行言之。不行者,道不行也。使人不以道者,以事言之。不能行者,令不行也。

孟子曰:「周於利者,凶年不能殺;周於德者,邪世不能亂。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'A bad year cannot prove the cause of death to him whose stores of gain are large; an age of corruption cannot confound him whose equipment of virtue is complete.'

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周,足也,言積之厚則用有餘。

孟子曰:「好名之人,能讓千乘之國;苟非其人,簞食豆羹見於色。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'A man who loves fame may be able to decline a State of a thousand chariots; but if he be not really the man to do such a thing, it will appear in his countenance, in the matter of a dish of rice or a platter of soup.'

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好、乘、食,皆去聲。見,音現。好名之人,矯情干譽,是以能讓千乘之國;然若本非能輕富貴之人,則於得失之小者,反不覺其真情之發見矣。蓋觀人不於其所勉,而於其所忽,然後可以見其所安之實也。

孟子曰:「不信賢,則國空虛。無,則上下亂。無政事,則財用不足。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'If men of virtue and ability be not confided in, a State will become empty and void. Without the rules of propriety and distinctions of right, the high and the low will be thrown into confusion. Without the great principles of government and their various business, there will not be wealth sufficient for the expenditure.'

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孟子曰:「不信仁賢,則國空虛。 空虛,言若無人然。

無禮義,則上下亂。 禮義,所以辨上下,定民志。

無政事,則財用不足。」 生之無道,取之無度,用之無節故也。尹氏曰:「三者以仁賢為本。無仁賢,則禮義政事,處之皆不以其道矣。」

孟子曰:「不而得國者,有之矣;不而得天下,未之有也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'There are instances of individuals without benevolence, who have got possession of a single State, but there has been no instance of the throne's being got by one without benevolence.'

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言不仁之人,騁其私智,可以盜千乘之國,而不可以得丘民之心。鄒氏曰:「自秦以來,不仁而得天下者有矣;然皆一再傳而失之,猶不得也。所謂得天下者,必如三代而後可。」

孟子曰:「民為貴,社稷次之,君為輕。是故得乎丘民而為天子,得乎天子為諸侯,得乎諸侯為大夫。諸侯危社稷,則變置。犧牲既成,粢盛既潔,祭祀以時,然而旱干水溢,則變置社稷。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'The people are the most important element in a nation; the spirits of the land and grain are the next; the sovereign is the lightest. Therefore to gain the peasantry is the way to become sovereign; to gain the sovereign is the way to become a prince of a State; to gain the prince of a State is the way to become a great officer. When a prince endangers the altars of the spirits of the land and grain, he is changed, and another appointed in his place. When the sacrificial victims have been perfect, the millet in its vessels all pure, and the sacrifices offered at their proper seasons, if yet there ensue drought, or the waters overflow, the spirits of the land and grain are changed, and others appointed in their place.'

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孟子曰:「民為貴,社稷次之,君為輕。 社,土神。稷,榖神。建國則立壇壝以祀之。蓋國以民為本,社稷亦為民而立,而君之尊,又繫於二者之存亡,故其輕重如此。

是故得乎丘民而為天子,得乎天子為諸侯,得乎諸侯為大夫。 丘民,田野之民,至微賤也。然得其心,則天下歸之。天子至尊貴也,而得其心者,不過為諸侯耳,是民為重也。

諸侯危社稷,則變置。 諸侯無道,將使社稷為人所滅,則當更立賢君,是君輕於社稷也。

犧牲既成,粢盛既潔,祭祀以時,然而旱干水溢,則變置社稷。」 盛,音成。祭祀不失禮,而土榖之神不能為民御災捍患,則毀其壇壝而更置之,亦年不順成,八蜡不通之意,是社稷雖重於君而輕於民也。

孟子曰:「聖人,百世之師也,伯夷、柳下惠是也。故聞伯夷之風者,頑夫廉,懦夫有立志;聞柳下惠之風者,薄夫敦,鄙夫寬。奮乎百世之上。百世之下,聞者莫不興起也。非聖人而能若是乎,而況於親炙之者乎?」

Legge

Mencius said, 'A sage is the teacher of a hundred generations - this is true of Bo Yi and Hui of Liu Xia. Therefore when men now bear the character of Bo Yi, the corrupt become pure, and the weak acquire determination. When they hear the character of Hui of Liu Xia, the mean become generous, and the niggardly become liberal. Those two made themselves distinguished a hundred generations ago, and after a hundred generations, those who hear of them, are all aroused in this manner. Could such effects be produced by them, if they had not been sages? And how much more did they affect those who were in contiguity with them, and felt their inspiring influence!'

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興起,感動奮發也。親炙,親近而熏炙之也,余見前篇。

孟子曰:「也者,人也。合而言之,道也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Benevolence is the distinguishing characteristic of man. As embodied in man's conduct, it is called the path of duty.'

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仁者,人之所以為人之理也。然仁,理也;人,物也。以仁之理,合於人之身而言之,乃所謂道者也。程子曰:「中庸所謂率性之謂道是也。」或曰「外國本,人也之下,有『義也者宜也,禮也者履也,智也者知也,信也者實也』,凡二十字。」今按如此,則理極分明,然未詳其是否也。

孟子曰:「孔子之去魯,曰:『遲遲吾行也。』去父母國之道也。去齊,接淅而行,去他國之道也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'When Confucius was leaving Lu, he said, "I will set out by-and-by;" - this was the way in which to leave the State of his parents. When he was leaving Qi, he strained off with his hand the water in which his rice was being rinsed, took the rice, and went away - this was the way in which to leave a strange State.'

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重出。

孟子曰:「之厄於陳蔡之閒,無上下之交也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'The reason why the superior man was reduced to straits between Chen and Cai was because neither the princes of the time nor their ministers sympathized or communicated with him.'

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君子,孔子也。厄,與戹同,君臣皆惡,無所與交也。

貉稽曰:「稽大不理於口。」孟子曰:「無傷也。士憎茲多口。詩云:『憂心悄悄,慍於群小。』孔子也。『肆不殄厥慍,亦不隕厥問。』文王也。」

Legge

Mo Qi said, 'Greatly am I from anything to depend upon from the mouths of men.'

Mencius observed, 'There is no harm in that. Scholars are more exposed than others to suffer from the mouths of men. It is said, in the Book of Poetry, "My heart is disquieted and grieved, I am hated by the crowd of mean creatures." This might have been said by Confucius. And again, "Though he did not remove their wrath, He did not let fall his own fame." This might be said of king Wen.'

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貉稽曰:「稽大不理於口。」 貉,音陌。趙氏曰:「貉姓,稽名,為眾口所訕。」理,賴也。今按漢書無俚,方言亦訓賴。

孟子曰:「無傷也。士憎茲多口。 趙氏曰:「為士者,益多為眾口所訕。」按此則憎當從土,今本皆從心,蓋傳寫之誤。

詩云:『憂心悄悄,慍於群小。』孔子也。『肆不殄厥慍,亦不隕厥問。』文王也。」 詩邶風柏舟,及大雅綿之篇也。悄悄,憂貌。慍,怒也。本言衛之仁人見怒於群小。孟子以為孔子之事,可以當之。肆,發語辭。隕,墜也。問,聲問也。本言太王事昆夷,雖不能殄絕其慍怒,亦不自墜其聲問之美。孟子以為文王之事,可以當之。尹氏曰:「言人顧自處如何,盡其在我者而已。」

孟子曰:「賢者以其昭昭,使人昭昭;今以其昏昏,使人昭昭。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Anciently, men of virtue and talents by means of their own enlightenment made others enlightened. Nowadays, it is tried, while they are themselves in darkness, and by means of that darkness, to make others enlightened.'

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昭昭,明也。昏昏,闇也。尹氏曰:「大學之道,在自昭明德,而施於天下國家,其有不順者寡矣。」

孟子謂高子曰:「山徑之蹊閒,介然用之而成路。為閒不用,則茅塞之矣。今茅塞子之心矣。」

Legge

Mencius said to the disciple Gao, 'There are the footpaths along the hills; if suddenly they be used, they become roads; and if, as suddenly they are not used, the wild grass fills them up. Now, the wild grass fills up your mind.'

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介,音戛。徑,小路也。蹊,人行處也。介然,倏然之頃也。用,由也。路,大路也。為閒,少頃也。茅塞,茅草生而塞之也。言理義之心,不可少有閒斷也。

高子曰:「禹之聲,尚文王之聲。」孟子曰:「何以言之?」曰:「以追蠡。」曰:「是奚足哉?城門之軌,兩馬之力與?」

Legge

The disciple Gao said, 'The music of Yu was better than that of king Wen.'

Mencius observed, 'On what ground do you say so?'

And the other replied, 'Because at the pivot the knob of Yu's bells is nearly worn through.'

Mencius said, 'How can that be a sufficient proof? Are the ruts at the gate of a city made by a single two-horsed chariot?'

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高子曰:「禹之聲,尚文王之聲。」 尚,加尚也。豐氏曰:「言禹之樂,過於文王之樂。」

孟子曰:「何以言之?」曰:「以追蠡。」 追,音堆。蠡,音禮。豐氏曰:「追,鐘紐也。周禮所謂旋蟲是也。蠡者,嚙木蟲也。言禹時鐘在者,鐘紐如蟲嚙而欲絕,蓋用之者多,而文王之鐘不然,是以知禹之樂過於文王之樂也。」

曰:「是奚足哉?城門之軌,兩馬之力與?」 與,平聲。豐氏曰:「奚足,言此何足以知之也。軌,車轍跡也。兩馬,一車所駕也。城中之塗容九軌,車可散行,故其轍跡淺;城門惟容一車,車皆由之,故其轍跡深。蓋日久車多所致,非一車兩馬之力,能使之然也。言禹在文王前千餘年,故鐘久而紐絕;文王之鐘,則未久而紐全,不可以此而議優劣也。」此章文義本不可曉,舊說相承如此,而豐氏差明白,故今存之,亦未知其是否也。

齊饑。陳臻曰:「國人皆以夫子將復為發棠,殆不可復。」孟子曰:「是為馮婦也。晉人有馮婦者,善搏虎,卒為善士。則之野,有眾逐虎。虎負嵎,莫之敢攖。望見馮婦,趨而迎之。馮婦攘臂下車。眾皆悅之,其為士者笑之。」

Legge

When Qi was suffering from famine, Chen Zhen said to Mencius, 'The people are all thinking that you, Master, will again ask that the granary of Tang be opened for them. I apprehend you will not do so a second time.'

Mencius said, 'To do it would be to act like Feng Fu. There was a man of that name in Jin, famous for his skill in seizing tigers. Afterwards he became a scholar of reputation, and going once out to the wild country, he found the people all in pursuit of a tiger. The tiger took refuge in a corner of a hill, where no one dared to attack him, but when they saw Feng Fu, they ran and met him. Feng Fu immediately bared his arms, and descended from the carriage. The multitude were pleased with him, but those who were scholars laughed at him.'

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齊饑。陳臻曰:「國人皆以夫子將復為發棠,殆不可復。」 復,扶又反。先時齊國嘗饑,孟子勸王發棠邑之倉,以振貧窮。至此又饑,陳臻問言齊人望孟子復勸王發棠,而又自言恐其不可也。

孟子曰:「是為馮婦也。晉人有馮婦者,善搏虎,卒為善士。則之野,有眾逐虎。虎負嵎,莫之敢攖。望見馮婦,趨而迎之。馮婦攘臂下車。眾皆悅之,其為士者笑之。」 手執曰搏。卒為善士,後能改行為善也。之,適也。負,依也。山曲曰嵎。攖,觸也。笑之,笑其不知止也。疑此時齊王已不能用孟子,而孟子亦將去矣,故其言如此。

孟子曰:「口之於味也,目之於色也,耳之於聲也,鼻之於臭也,四肢之於安佚也,也,有命焉,不謂也。之於父子也,之於君臣也,之於賓主也,之於賢者也,聖人之於道也,命也,有焉,不謂命也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'For the mouth to desire sweet tastes, the eye to desire beautiful colours, the ear to desire pleasant sounds, the nose to desire fragrant odours, and the four limbs to desire ease and rest - these things are natural. But there is the appointment of Heaven in connexion with them, and the superior man does not say of his pursuit of them, "It is my nature." The exercise of love between father and son, the observance of righteousness between sovereign and minister, the rules of ceremony between guest and host, the display of knowledge in recognising the talented, and the fulfilling the heavenly course by the sage - these are the appointment of Heaven. But there is an adaptation of our nature for them. The superior man does not say, in reference to them, "It is the appointment of Heaven."'

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孟子曰:「口之於味也,目之於色也,耳之於聲也,鼻之於臭也,四肢之於安佚也,性也,有命焉,君子不謂性也。 程子曰:「五者之欲,性也。然有分,不能皆如其願,則是命也。不可謂我性之所有,而求必得之也。」愚按:不能皆如其願,不止為貧賤。蓋雖富貴之極,亦有品節限制,則是亦有命也。

仁之於父子也,義之於君臣也,禮之於賓主也,智之於賢者也,聖人之於天道也,命也,有性焉,君子不謂命也。」 程子曰:「仁義禮智天道,在人則賦於命者,所稟有厚薄清濁,然而性善可學而盡,故不謂之命也。」張子曰:「晏嬰智矣,而不知仲尼。是非命邪?」愚按:所稟者厚而清,則其仁之於父子也至,義之於君臣也盡,禮之於賓主也恭,智之於賢否也哲,聖人之於天道也,無不吻合而純亦不已焉。薄而濁,則反是,是皆所謂命也。或曰「者」當作否,「人」衍字,更詳之。愚聞之師曰:「此二條者,皆性之所有而命於天者也。然世之人,以前五者為性,雖有不得,而必欲求之;以後五者為命,一有不至,則不復致力,故孟子各就其重處言之,以伸此而抑彼也。張子所謂『養則付命於天,道則責成於己』。其言約而盡矣。」

浩生不害問曰:「樂正子,何人也?」孟子曰:「善人也,人也。」「何謂善?何謂?」曰:「可欲之謂善,有諸己之謂。充實之謂美,充實而有光輝之謂大,大而化之之謂聖,聖而不可知之之謂神。樂正子,二之中,四之下也。」

Legge

Hao Sheng Bu Hai asked, saying, 'What sort of man is Yue Zheng?'

Mencius replied, 'He is a good man, a real man.'

'What do you mean by "A good man," "A real man?"'

The reply was, 'A man who commands our liking is what is called a good man. He whose goodness is part of himself is what is called real man. He whose goodness has been filled up is what is called beautiful man. He whose completed goodness is brightly displayed is what is called a great man. When this great man exercises a transforming influence, he is what is called a sage. When the sage is beyond our knowledge, he is what is called a spirit-man. Yue Zheng is between the two first characters, and below the four last.'

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浩生不害問曰:「樂正子,何人也?」孟子曰:「善人也,信人也。」 趙氏曰:「浩生,姓;不害,名,齊人也。」

「何謂善?何謂信?」 不害問也。

曰:「可欲之謂善, 天下之理,其善者必可欲,其惡者必可惡。其為人也,可欲而不可惡,則可謂善人矣。

有諸己之謂信。 凡所謂善,皆實有之,如惡惡臭,如好好色,是則可謂信人矣。張子曰:「志仁無惡之謂善,誠善於身之謂信。」

充實之謂美, 力行其善,至於充滿而積實,則美在其中而無待於外矣。

充實而有光輝之謂大, 和順積中,而英華發外;美在其中,而暢於四支,發於事業,則德業至盛而不可加矣。

大而化之之謂聖, 大而能化,使其大者泯然無復可見之跡,則不思不勉、從容中道,而非人力之所能為矣。張子曰:「大可為也,化不可為也,在熟之而已矣。」

聖而不可知之之謂神。 程子曰:「聖不可知,謂聖之至妙,人所不能測。非聖人之上,又有一等神人也。」

樂正子,二之中,四之下也。」 蓋在善信之閒,觀其從於子敖,則其有諸己者或未實也。張子曰:「顏淵、樂正子皆知好仁矣。樂正子志仁無惡而不致於學,所以但為善人信人而已;顏子好學不倦,合仁與智,具體聖人,獨未至聖人之止耳。」程子曰:「士之所難者,在有諸己而已。能有諸己,則居之安,資之深,而美且大可以馴致矣。徒知可欲之善,而若存若亡而已,則能不受變於俗者鮮矣。」尹氏曰:「自可欲之善,至於聖而不可知之神,上下一理。擴充之至於神,則不可得而名矣。」

孟子曰:「逃墨必歸於楊,逃楊必歸於儒。歸,斯受之而已矣。今之與楊墨辯者,如追放豚,既入其苙,又從而招之。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Those who are fleeing from the errors of Mo naturally turn to Yang, and those who are fleeing from the errors of Yang naturally turn to orthodoxy. When they so turn, they should at once and simply be received. Those who nowadays dispute with the followers of Yang and Mo do so as if they were pursuing a stray pig, the leg of which, after they have got it to enter the pen, they proceed to tie.'

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孟子曰:「逃墨必歸於楊,逃楊必歸於儒。歸,斯受之而已矣。 墨氏務外而不情,楊氏太簡而近實,故其反正之漸,大略如此。歸斯受之者,憫其陷溺之久,而取其悔悟之新也。

今之與楊墨辯者,如追放豚,既入其苙,又從而招之。」 放豚,放逸之豕豚也。苙,闌也。招,罥也,羈其足也。言彼既來歸,而又追咎其既往之失也。此章見聖賢之於異端,距之甚嚴,而於其來歸,待之甚恕。距之嚴,故人知彼說之為邪;待之恕,故人知此道之可反,仁之至,義之盡也。

孟子曰:「有布縷之征,粟米之征,力役之征。用其一,緩其二。用其二而民有殍,用其三而父子離。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'There are the exactions of hempen-cloth and silk, of grain, and of personal service. The prince requires but one of these at once, deferring the other two. If he require two of them at once, then the people die of hunger. If he require the three at once, then fathers and sons are separated.'

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征賦之法,歲有常數,然布縷取之於夏,粟米取之於秋,力役取之於冬,當各以其時;若并取之,則民力有所不堪矣。今兩稅三限之法,亦此意也。尹氏曰「言民為邦本,取之無度,則其國危矣。」

孟子曰:「諸侯之寶三:土地,人民,政事。寶珠玉者,殃必及身。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'The precious things of a prince are three: the territory, the people, the government and its business. If one value as most precious pearls and jade, calamity is sure to befall him.'

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尹氏曰:「言寶得其寶者安,寶失其寶者危。」

盆成括仕於齊。孟子曰:「死矣盆成括!」盆成括見殺。門人問曰:「夫子何以知其將見殺?」曰:「其為人也小有才,未聞之大道也,則足以殺其軀而已矣。」

Legge

Pen Cheng Kuo having obtained an official situation in Qi, Mencius said, 'He is a dead man, that Pen Cheng Kuo!'

Pen Cheng Kuo being put to death, the disciples asked, saying, 'How did you know, Master, that he would meet with death?'

Mencius replied, 'He was a man, who had a little ability, but had not learned the great doctrines of the superior man. He was just qualified to bring death upon himself, but for nothing more.'

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盆成,姓;括,名也。恃才妄作,所以取禍。徐氏曰:「君子道其常而已。括有死之道焉,設使幸而獲免,孟子之言猶信也。」

孟子之滕,館於上宮。有業屨於牖上,館人求之弗得。或問之曰:「若是乎從者之廋也?」曰:「子以是為竊屨來與?」曰:「殆非也。夫子之設科也,往者不追,來者不距。苟以是心至,斯受之而已矣。」

Legge

When Mencius went to Teng, he was lodged in the Upper palace. A sandal in the process of making had been placed there in a window, and when the keeper of the place came to look for it, he could not find it. On this, some one asked Mencius, saying, 'Is it thus that your followers pilfer?'

Mencius replied, 'Do you think that they came here to pilfer the sandal?'

The man said, 'I apprehend not. But you, Master, having arranged to give lessons, do not go back to inquire into the past, and you do not reject those who come to you. If they come with the mind to learn, you receive them without any more ado.'

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孟子之滕,館於上宮。有業屨於牖上,館人求之弗得。 館,舍也。上宮,別宮名。業屨,織之有次業而未成者,蓋館人所作,置之牖上而失之也。

或問之曰:「若是乎從者之廋也?」曰:「子以是為竊屨來與?」曰:「殆非也。夫子之設科也,往者不追,來者不距。苟以是心至,斯受之而已矣。」 從、為,並去聲。與,平聲。夫子,如字,舊讀為扶余者非。或問之者,問於孟子也。廋,匿也。言子之從者,乃匿人之物如此乎?孟子答之,而或人自悟其失,因言此從者固不為竊屨而來,但夫子設置科條以待學者,苟以向道之心而來,則受之耳,雖夫子亦不能保其往也。門人取其言,有合於聖賢之指,故記之。

孟子曰:「人皆有所不忍,達之於其所忍,也;人皆有所不為,達之於其所為,也。人能充無欲害人之心,而不可勝用也;人能充無穿踰之心,而不可勝用也。人能充無受爾汝之實,無所往而不為也。士未可以言而言,是以言餂之也;可以言而不言,是以不言餂之也,是皆穿踰之類也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'All men have some things which they cannot bear; extend that feeling to what they can bear, and benevolence will be the result. All men have some things which they will not do; extend that feeling to the things which they do, and righteousness will be the result. If a man can give full development to the feeling which makes him shrink from injuring others, his benevolence will be more than can be called into practice. If he can give full development to the feeling which refuses to break through, or jump over, a wall, his righteousness will be more than can be called into practice. If he can give full development to the real feeling of dislike with which he receives the salutation, "Thou," "Thou," he will act righteously in all places and circumstances. When a scholar speaks what he ought not to speak, by guile of speech seeking to gain some end; and when he does not speak what he ought to speak, by guile of silence seeking to gain some end; both these cases are of a piece with breaking through a neighbour's wall.'

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孟子曰:「人皆有所不忍,達之於其所忍,仁也;人皆有所不為,達之於其所為,義也。 惻隱羞惡之心,人皆有之,故莫不有所不忍不為,此仁義之端也。然以氣質之偏、物慾之蔽,則於他事或有不能者。但推所能,達之於所不能,則無非仁義矣。

人能充無欲害人之心,而仁不可勝用也;人能充無穿踰之心,而義不可勝用也。 勝,平聲。充,滿也。穿,穿穴;踰,踰牆,皆為盜之事也。能推所不忍,以達於所忍,則能滿其無欲害人之心,而無不仁矣;能推其所不為,以達於所為,則能滿其無穿踰之心,而無不義矣。

人能充無受爾汝之實,無所往而不為義也。 此申說上文充無穿踰之心之意也。蓋爾汝人所輕賤之稱,人雖或有所貪昧隱忍而甘受之者,然其中心必有慚忿而不肯受之之實。人能即此而推之,使其充滿無所虧缺,則無適而非義矣。

士未可以言而言,是以言餂之也;可以言而不言,是以不言餂之也,是皆穿踰之類也。」 餂,音忝。餂,探取之也。今人以舌取物曰餂,即此意也。便佞隱默,皆有意探取於人,是亦穿踰之類。然其事隱微,人所易忽,故特舉以見例。明必推無穿踰之心,以達於此而悉去之,然後為能充其無穿踰之心也。

孟子曰:「言近而指遠者,善言也;守約而施博者,善道也。之言也,不下帶而道存焉。之守,修其身而天下平。人病舍其田而芸人之田,所求於人者重,而所以自任者輕。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Words which are simple, while their meaning is far-reaching, are good words. Principles which, as held, are compendious, while their application is extensive, are good principles. The words of the superior man do not go below the girdle, but great principles are contained in them. The principle which the superior man holds is that of personal cultivation, but the kingdom is thereby tranquillized. The disease of men is this: that they neglect their own fields, and go to weed the fields of others, and that what they require from others is great, while what they lay upon themselves is light.'

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孟子曰:「言近而指遠者,善言也;守約而施博者,善道也。君子之言也,不下帶而道存焉。 施,去聲。古人視不下於帶,則帶之上,乃目前常見至近之處也。舉目前之近事,而至理存焉,所以為言近而指遠也。

君子之守,修其身而天下平。 此所謂守約而施博也。

人病舍其田而芸人之田,所求於人者重,而所以自任者輕。」 舍,音捨。此言不守約而務博施之病。

孟子曰:「堯舜,者也;湯武,反之也。動容周旋中者,盛德之至也;哭死而哀,非為生者也;經德不回,非以干祿也;言語必,非以正行也。行法,以俟命而已矣。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Yao and Shun were what they were by nature; Tang and Wu were so by returning to natural virtue. When all the movements, in the countenance and every turn of the body, are exactly what is proper, that shows the extreme degree of the complete virtue. Weeping for the dead should be from real sorrow, and not because of the living. The regular path of virtue is to be pursued without any bend, and from no view to emolument. The words should all be necessarily sincere, not with any desire to do what is right. The superior man performs the law of right, and thereby waits simply for what has been appointed.'

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孟子曰:「堯舜,性者也;湯武,反之也。 性者,得全於天,無所污壞,不假修為,聖之至也。反之者,修為以復其性,而至於聖人也。程子曰:「性之反之,古未有此語,蓋自孟子發之。」呂氏曰:「無意而安行,性者也,有意利行,而至於無意,復性者也。堯舜不失其性,湯武善反其性,及其成功則一也。」

動容周旋中禮者,盛德之至也;哭死而哀,非為生者也;經德不回,非以干祿也;言語必信,非以正行也。 中、為、行,並去聲。細微曲折,無不中禮,乃其盛德之至。自然而中,而非有意於中也。經,常也。回,曲也。三者亦皆自然而然,非有意而為之也,皆聖人之事,性之之德也。

君子行法,以俟命而已矣。」 法者,天理之當然者也。君子行之,而吉兇禍福有所不計,蓋雖未至於自然,而已非有所為而為矣。此反之之事,董子所謂「正其義不謀其利,明其道不計其功」,正此意也。程子曰:「動容周旋中禮者,盛德之至。行法以俟命者,『朝聞道夕死可矣』之意也。」呂氏曰:「法由此立,命由此出,聖人也;行法以俟命,君子也。聖人性之,君子所以復其性也。」

孟子曰:「說大人,則藐之,勿視其巍巍然。堂高數仞,榱題數尺,我得志弗為也;食前方丈,侍妾數百人,我得志弗為也;般樂飲酒,驅騁田獵,後車千乘,我得志弗為也。在彼者,皆我所不為也;在我者,皆古之制也,吾何畏彼哉?」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Those who give counsel to the great should despise them, and not look at their pomp and display. Halls several times eight cubits high, with beams projecting several cubits; these, if my wishes were to be realized, I would not have. Food spread before me over ten cubits square, and attendants and concubines to the amount of hundreds; these, though my wishes were realized, I would not have. Pleasure and wine, and the dash of hunting, with thousands of chariots following after me; these, though my wishes were realized, I would not have. What they esteem are what I would have nothing to do with; what I esteem are the rules of the ancients. Why should I stand in awe of them?'

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孟子曰:「說大人,則藐之,勿視其巍巍然。 說,音稅。藐,音眇。趙氏曰:「大人,當時尊貴者也。藐,輕之也。巍巍,富貴高顯之貌。藐焉而不畏之,則志意舒展,言語得盡也。」

堂高數仞,榱題數尺,我得志弗為也;食前方丈,侍妾數百人,我得志弗為也;般樂飲酒,驅騁田獵,後車千乘,我得志弗為也。在彼者,皆我所不為也;在我者,皆古之制也,吾何畏彼哉?」 榱,楚危反。般,音盤。樂,音洛。乘,去聲。榱,桷也。題,頭也。食前方丈,饌食列於前者,方一丈也。此皆其所謂巍巍然者,我雖得志,有所不為,而所守者皆古聖賢之法,則彼之巍巍者,何足道哉!楊氏曰:「孟子此章,以己之長,方人之短,猶有此等氣象,在孔子則無此矣。」

孟子曰:「養心莫善於寡欲。其為人也寡欲,雖有不存焉者,寡矣;其為人也多欲,雖有存焉者,寡矣。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'To nourish the mind there is nothing better than to make the desires few. Here is a man whose desires are few - in some things he may not be able to keep his heart, but they will be few. Here is a man whose desires are many - in some things he may be able to keep his heart, but they will be few.'

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欲,如口鼻耳目四支之欲,雖人之所不能無,然多而不節,未有不失其本心者,學者所當深戒也。程子曰:「所欲不必沈溺,只有所向便是欲。」

曾皙嗜羊棗,而曾子不忍食羊棗。公孫丑問曰:「膾炙與羊棗孰美?」孟子曰:「膾炙哉!」公孫丑曰:「然則曾子何為食膾炙而不食羊棗?」曰:「膾炙所同也,羊棗所獨也。諱名不諱姓,姓所同也,名所獨也。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'Zeng Xi was fond of sheep-dates, and his son, the philosopher Zeng, could not bear to eat sheep-dates.' Gong Sun Chou asked, saying, 'Which is best, minced meat and broiled meat, or sheep-dates?'

Mencius said, 'Mince and broiled meat, to be sure.'

Gong Sun Chou went on, 'Then why did the philosopher Zeng eat mince and broiled meat, and would not eat sheep-dates?'

Mencius answered, 'For mince and broiled meat there is a common liking, while that for sheep-dates was peculiar. We avoid the name, but do not avoid the surname. The surname is common; the name is peculiar.'

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曾皙嗜羊棗,而曾子不忍食羊棗。 羊棗,實小黑而圓,又謂之羊矢棗。曾子以父嗜之,父歿之後,食必思親,故不忍食也。

公孫丑問曰:「膾炙與羊棗孰美?」孟子曰:「膾炙哉!」公孫丑曰:「然則曾子何為食膾炙而不食羊棗?」曰:「膾炙所同也,羊棗所獨也。諱名不諱姓,姓所同也,名所獨也。」 肉聶而切之為膾。炙,炙肉也。

萬章問曰:「孔子在陳曰:『盍歸乎來!吾黨之士狂簡,進取,不忘其初。』孔子在陳,何思魯之狂士?」孟子曰:「孔子『不得中道而與之,必也狂獧乎!狂者進取,獧者有所不為也』。孔子豈不欲中道哉?不可必得,故思其次也。」「敢問何如斯可謂狂矣?」曰:「如琴張、曾皙、牧皮者,孔子之所謂狂矣。」「何以謂之狂也?」曰:「其志嘐嘐然,曰『古之人,古之人』。夷考其行而不掩焉者也。狂者又不可得,欲得不屑不潔之士而與之,是獧也,是又其次也。孔子曰:『過我門而不入我室,我不憾焉者,其惟鄉原乎!鄉原,德之賊也。』」曰:「何如斯可謂之鄉原矣?」曰:「『何以是嘐嘐也?言不顧行,行不顧言,則曰:古之人,古之人。行何為踽踽涼涼?生斯世也,為斯世也,善斯可矣。』閹然媚於世也者,是鄉原也。」萬子曰:「一鄉皆稱原人焉,無所往而不為原人,孔子以為德之賊,何哉?」曰:「非之無舉也,刺之無刺也;同乎流俗,合乎污世;居之似忠,行之似廉潔;眾皆悅之,自以為是,而不可與入堯舜之道,故曰德之賊也。孔子曰:『惡似而非者:惡莠,恐其亂苗也;惡佞,恐其亂也;惡利口,恐其亂也;惡鄭聲,恐其亂樂也;惡紫,恐其亂朱也;惡鄉原,恐其亂德也。』反經而已矣。經正,則庶民興;庶民興,斯無邪慝矣。」

Legge

Wan Zhang asked, saying, 'Confucius, when he was in Chen, said: "Let me return. The scholars of my school are ambitious, but hasty. They are for advancing and seizing their object, but cannot forget their early ways." Why did Confucius, when he was in Chen, think of the ambitious scholars of Lu?'

Mencius replied, 'Confucius not getting men pursuing the true medium, to whom he might communicate his instructions, determined to take the ardent and the cautiously-decided. The ardent would advance to seize their object; the cautiously-decided would keep themselves from certain things. It is not to be thought that Confucius did not wish to get men pursuing the true medium, but being unable to assure himself of finding such, he therefore thought of the next class.'

'I venture to ask what sort of men they were who could be styled "The ambitious?"'

'Such,' replied Mencius, 'as Qin Zhang, Zeng Xi, and Mu Pi, were those whom Confucius styled "ambitious."'

'Why were they styled "ambitious?"'

The reply was, 'Their aim led them to talk magniloquently, saying, "The ancients!" "The ancients!" But their actions, where we fairly compare them with their words, did not correspond with them. When he found also that he could not get such as were thus ambitious, he wanted to get scholars who would consider anything impure as beneath them. Those were the cautiously-decided, a class next to the former.' Zhang pursued his questioning, 'Confucius said, "They are only your good careful people of the villages at whom I feel no indignation, when they pass my door without entering my house. Your good careful people of the villages are the thieves of virtue."'

'What sort of people were they who could be styled "Your good careful people of the villages?"'

Mencius replied, 'They are those who say, "Why are they so magniloquent? Their words have not respect to their actions and their actions have not respect to their words, but they say, "The ancients! The ancients! Why do they act so peculiarly, and are so cold and distant? Born in this age, we should be of this age, to be good is all that is needed." Eunuch-like, flattering their generation - such are your good careful men of the villages.'

Wan Zhang said, 'Their whole village styles those men good and careful. In all their conduct they are so. How was it that Confucius considered them the thieves of virtue?'

Mencius replied, 'If you would blame them, you find nothing to allege. If you would criticise them, you have nothing to criticise. They agree with the current customs. They consent with an impure age. Their principles have a semblance of right-heartedness and truth. Their conduct has a semblance of disinterestedness and purity. All men are pleased with them, and they think themselves right, so that it is impossible to proceed with them to the principles of Yao and Shun. On this account they are called "The thieves of virtue." Confucius said, "I hate a semblance which is not the reality. I hate the darnel, lest it be confounded with the corn. I hate glib-tonguedness, lest it be confounded with righteousness. I hate sharpness of tongue, lest it be confounded with sincerity. I hate the music of Chang, lest it be confounded with the true music. I hate the reddish blue, lest it be confounded with vermilion. I hate your good careful men of the villages, lest they be confounded with the truly virtuous." The superior man seeks simply to bring back the unchanging standard, and, that being correct, the masses are roused to virtue. When they are so aroused, forthwith perversities and glossed wickedness disappear.'

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萬章問曰:「孔子在陳曰:『盍歸乎來!吾黨之士狂簡,進取,不忘其初。』孔子在陳,何思魯之狂士?」 盍,何不也。狂簡,謂志大而略於事。進取,謂求望高遠。不忘其初,謂不能改其舊也。此語與論語小異。

孟子曰:「孔子『不得中道而與之,必也狂獧乎!狂者進取,獧者有所不為也』。孔子豈不欲中道哉?不可必得,故思其次也。」 獧,音絹。不得中道,至有所不為,據論語亦孔子之言。然則孔子字下當有曰字。論語道作行,獧作狷。有所不為者,知恥自好,不為不善之人也。孔子豈不欲中道以下,孟子言也。

「敢問何如斯可謂狂矣?」 萬章問。

曰:「如琴張、曾皙、牧皮者,孔子之所謂狂矣。」 琴張,名牢,字子張。子桑戶死,琴張臨其喪而歌。事見莊子。雖未必盡然,要必有近似者。曾皙見前篇。季武子死,曾皙倚其門而歌,事見檀弓。又言誌異乎三子者之撰,事見論語。牧皮,未詳

「何以謂之狂也?」 萬章問。

曰:「其志嘐嘐然,曰『古之人,古之人』。夷考其行而不掩焉者也。 嘐,火交反。行,去聲。嘐嘐,志大言大也。重言古之人,見其動輒稱之,不一稱而已也。夷,平也。掩,覆也。言平考其行,則不能覆其言也。程子曰:「曾皙言志,而夫子與之。蓋與聖人之志同,便是堯舜氣象也,特行有不掩焉耳,此所謂狂也。」

狂者又不可得,欲得不屑不潔之士而與之,是獧也,是又其次也。 此因上文所引,遂解所以思得獧者之意。狂,有志者也;獧,有守者也。有志者能進於道,有守者不失其身。屑,潔也

孔子曰:『過我門而不入我室,我不憾焉者,其惟鄉原乎!鄉原,德之賊也。』」曰:「何如斯可謂之鄉原矣?」 鄉人,非有識者。原,與願同。荀子「原愨」,字皆讀作愿,謂謹愿之人也。故鄉里所謂愿人,謂之鄉原。孔子以其似德而非德,故以為德之賊。過門不入而不恨之,以其不見親就為幸,深惡而痛絕之也。萬章又引孔子之言而問也

曰:「『何以是嘐嘐也?言不顧行,行不顧言,則曰:古之人,古之人。行何為踽踽涼涼?生斯世也,為斯世也,善斯可矣。』閹然媚於世也者,是鄉原也。」 行,去聲。踽,其禹反。閹,音奄。踽踽,獨行不進之貌。涼涼,薄也,不見親厚於人也。鄉原譏狂者曰:何用如此嘐嘐然,行不掩其言,而徒每事必稱古人邪?又譏狷者曰:何必如此踽踽涼涼,無所親厚哉?人既生於此世,則但當為此世之人,使當世之人皆以為善則可矣,此鄉原之志也。閹,如奄人之奄,閉藏之意也。媚,求悅於人也。孟子言此深自閉藏,以求親媚於世,是鄉原之行也。

萬子曰:「一鄉皆稱原人焉,無所往而不為原人,孔子以為德之賊,何哉?」 原,亦謹厚之稱,而孔子以為德之賊,故萬章疑之。

曰:「非之無舉也,刺之無刺也;同乎流俗,合乎污世;居之似忠信,行之似廉潔;眾皆悅之,自以為是,而不可與入堯舜之道,故曰德之賊也。 呂侍講曰:「言此等之人,欲非之則無可舉,欲刺之則無可刺也。」流俗者,風俗頹靡,如水之下流,眾莫不然也。污,濁也。非忠信而似忠信,非廉潔而似廉潔。

孔子曰:『惡似而非者:惡莠,恐其亂苗也;惡佞,恐其亂義也;惡利口,恐其亂信也;惡鄭聲,恐其亂樂也;惡紫,恐其亂朱也;惡鄉原,恐其亂德也。』 惡,去聲。莠,音有。孟子又引孔子之言以明之。莠,似苗之草也。佞,才智之稱,其言似義而非義也。利口,多言而不實者也。鄭聲,淫樂也。樂,正樂也。紫,閒色。朱,正色也。鄉原不狂不獧,人皆以為善,有似乎中道而實非也,故恐其亂德。

君子反經而已矣。經正,則庶民興;庶民興,斯無邪慝矣。」 反,復也。經,常也,萬世不易之常道也。興,興起於善也。邪慝,如鄉原之屬是也。世衰道微,大經不正,故人人得為異說以濟其私,而邪慝并起,不可勝正,君子於此,亦復其常道而已。常道既復,則民興於善,而是非明白,無所回互,雖有邪慝,不足以惑之矣。尹氏曰:「君子取夫狂獧者,蓋以狂者志大而可與進道,獧者有所不為,而可與有為也。所惡於鄉原,而欲痛絕之者,為其似是而非,惑人之深也。絕之之術無他焉,亦曰反經而已矣。」

孟子曰:「由堯舜至於湯,五百有餘歲,若禹、皋陶,則見而知之;若湯,則聞而知之。由湯至於文王,五百有餘歲,若伊尹、萊朱則見而知之;若文王,則聞而知之。由文王至於孔子,五百有餘歲,若太公望、散宜生,則見而知之;若孔子,則聞而知之。由孔子而來至於今,百有餘歲,去聖人之世,若此其未遠也;近聖人之居,若此其甚也,然而無有乎爾,則亦無有乎爾。」

Legge

Mencius said, 'From Yao and Shun down to Tang were 500 years and more. As to Yu and Gao Yao, they saw those earliest sages, and so knew their doctrines, while Tang heard their doctrines as transmitted, and so knew them. From Tang to king Wen were 500 years and more. As to Yi Yin, and Lai Zhu, they saw Tang and knew his doctrines, while king Wen heard them as transmitted, and so knew them. From king Wen to Confucius were 500 years and more. As to Tai Gong Wang and San Yi Sheng, they saw Wen, and so knew his doctrines, while Confucius heard them as transmitted, and so knew them. From Confucius downwards until now, there are only 100 years and somewhat more. The distance in time from the sage is so far from being remote, and so very near at hand was the sage's residence. In these circumstances, is there no one to transmit his doctrines? Yea, is there no one to do so?'

注 Zhu Xi 孟子集注

孟子曰:「由堯舜至於湯,五百有餘歲,若禹、皋陶,則見而知之;若湯,則聞而知之。 趙氏曰:「五百歲而聖人出,天道之常;然亦有遲速,不能正五百年,故言有餘也。」尹氏曰:「知,謂知其道也。」

由湯至於文王,五百有餘歲,若伊尹、萊朱則見而知之;若文王,則聞而知之。 趙氏曰:「萊朱,湯賢臣。」或曰:「即仲虺也,為湯左相。」

由文王至於孔子,五百有餘歲,若太公望、散宜生,則見而知之;若孔子,則聞而知之。 散,素亶反。散,氏;宜生,名;文王賢臣也。子貢曰:「文武之道,未墜於地,在人。賢者識其大者,不賢者識其小者,莫不有文武之道焉。夫子焉不學?」此所謂聞而知之也。

由孔子而來至於今,百有餘歲,去聖人之世,若此其未遠也;近聖人之居,若此其甚也,然而無有乎爾,則亦無有乎爾。」 林氏曰:「孟子言孔子至今時未遠,鄒魯相去又近,然而已無有見而知之者矣;則五百餘歲之後,又豈復有聞而知之者乎?」愚按:此言,雖若不敢自謂已得其傳,而憂後世遂失其傳,然乃所以自見其有不得辭者,而又以見夫天理民彝不可泯滅,百世之下,必將有神會而心得之者耳。故於篇終,歷序群聖之統,而終之以此,所以明其傳之有在,而又以俟後聖於無窮也,其指深哉!有宋元豐八年,河南程顥伯淳卒。潞公文彥博題其墓曰:「明道先生。」而其弟頤正叔序之曰:「周公歿,聖人之道不行;孟軻死,聖人之學不傳。道不行,百世無善治;學不傳,千載無真儒。無善治,士猶得以明夫善治之道,以淑諸人,以傳諸後;無真儒,則天下貿貿焉莫知所之,人欲肆而天理滅矣。先生生乎千四百年之後,得不傳之學於遺經,以興起斯文為己任。辨異端,辟邪說,使聖人之道渙然復明於世。蓋自孟子之後,一人而已。然學者於道不知所向,則孰知斯人之為功?不知所至,則孰知斯名之稱情也哉?」