Gao Zi I · 孟子 6A.17

Passage 17

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「欲yù貴guì者zhě，人rén之zhī同tóng心xīn也yě。人rén人rén有yǒu貴guì於wū己jǐ者zhě，弗fú思sī耳ěr矣yǐ。人rén之zhī所suǒ貴guì者zhě，非fēi良liáng貴guì也yě。趙zhào孟mèng之zhī所suǒ貴guì，趙zhào孟mèng能néng賤jiàn之zhī。《詩shī》云yún：『既jì醉zuì以yǐ酒jiǔ，既jì飽bǎo以yǐ德dé。』言yán飽bǎo乎hū仁rén義yì也yě，所suǒ以yǐ不bú愿yuàn人rén之zhī膏gāo粱liáng之zhī味wèi也yě。令lìng聞wén廣guǎng譽yù施shī於wū身shēn，所suǒ以yǐ不bú愿yuàn人rén之zhī文wén繡xiù也yě。」

Mencius said, 'To desire to be honoured is the common mind of men. And all men have in themselves that which is truly honourable. Only they do not think of it. The honour which men confer is not good honour. Those whom Zhao the Great ennobles he can make mean again. It is said in the Book of Poetry, "He has filled us with his wine, He has satiated us with his goodness." "Satiated us with his goodness," that is, satiated us with benevolence and righteousness, and he who is so satiated, consequently, does not wish for the fat meat and fine millet of men. A good reputation and far-reaching praise fall to him, and he does not desire the elegant embroidered garments of men.'