Jin Xin I · 孟子 7A.13

Passage 13

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「霸bà者zhě之zhī民mín，驩huān虞yú如rú也yě；王wáng者zhě之zhī民mín，皞hào皞hào如rú也yě。殺shā之zhī而ér不bú怨yuàn，利lì之zhī而ér不bù庸yōng，民mín日rì遷qiān善shàn而ér不bù知zhī為wéi之zhī者zhě。夫fū君jūn子zǐ所suǒ過guò者zhě化huà，所suǒ存cún者zhě神shén，上shàng下xià與yǔ天tiān地dì同tóng流liú，豈qǐ曰yuē小xiǎo補bǔ之zhī哉zāi？」

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!'