Jin Xin I · 孟子 7A.23

Passage 23

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「易yì其qí田tián疇chóu，薄báo其qí稅shuì斂liǎn，民mín可kě使shǐ富fù也yě。食shí之zhī以yǐ時shí，用yòng之zhī以yǐ禮lǐ，財cái不bù可kě勝shèng用yòng也yě。民mín非fēi水shuǐ火huǒ不bù生shēng活huó，昏hūn暮mù叩kòu人rén之zhī門mén戶hù，求qiú水shuǐ火huǒ，無wú弗fú與yǔ者zhě，至zhì足zú矣yǐ。聖shèng人rén治zhì天tiān下xià，使shǐ有yǒu菽shū粟sù如rú水shuǐ火huǒ。菽shū粟sù如rú水shuǐ火huǒ，而ér民mín焉yān有yǒu不bù仁rén者zhě乎hū？」

Mencius said, 'Let it be seen to that their fields of grain and hemp are well cultivated, and make the taxes on them light - so the people may be made rich. Let it be seen to that the people use their resources of food seasonably, and expend their wealth only on the prescribed ceremonies - so their wealth will be more than can be consumed. The people cannot live without water and fire, yet if you knock at a man's door in the dusk of the evening, and ask for water and fire, there is no man who will not give them, such is the abundance of these things. A sage governs the kingdom so as to cause pulse and grain to be as abundant as water and fire. When pulse and grain are as abundant as water and fire, how shall the people be other than virtuous?'