Jin Xin I · 孟子 7A.21

Passage 21

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「廣guǎng土tǔ眾zhòng民mín，君jūn子zǐ欲yù之zhī，所suǒ樂lè不bù存cún焉yān。中zhōng天tiān下xià而ér立lì，定dìng四sì海hǎi之zhī民mín，君jūn子zǐ樂lè之zhī，所suǒ性xìng不bù存cún焉yān。君jūn子zǐ所suǒ性xìng，雖suī大dà行xíng不bù加jiā焉yān，雖suī窮qióng居jū不bù損sǔn焉yān，分fēn定dìng故gù也yě。君jūn子zǐ所suǒ性xìng，仁rén義yì禮lǐ智zhì根gēn於wū心xīn。其qí生shēng色sè也yě，睟suì然rán見jiàn於wū面miàn、盎àng於wū背bèi。施shī於wū四sì體tǐ，四sì體tǐ不bù言yán而ér喻yù。」

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.'