Jin Xin I · 孟子 7A.20

Passage 20

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「君jūn子zǐ有yǒu三sān樂lè，而ér王wáng天tiān下xià不bù與yǔ存cún焉yān。父fù母mǔ俱jù存cún，兄xiōng弟dì無wú故gù，一yí樂lè也yě。仰yǎng不bú愧kuì於wū天tiān，俯fǔ不bú怍zuò於wū人rén，二èr樂lè也yě。得dé天tiān下xià英yīng才cái而ér教jiào育yù之zhī，三sān樂lè也yě。君jūn子zǐ有yǒu三sān樂lè，而ér王wáng天tiān下xià不bù與yǔ存cún焉yān。」

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.'