Jin Xin I · 孟子 7A.31

Passage 31

公gōng孫sūn丑chǒu曰yuē：「伊yī尹yǐn曰yuē：『予yǔ不bù狎xiá于yú不bú順shùn。』放fàng太tài甲jiǎ于yú桐tóng，民mín大dà悅yuè；太tài甲jiǎ賢xián，又yòu反fǎn之zhī，民mín大dà悅yuè。賢xián者zhě之zhī為wéi人rén臣chén也yě，其qí君jūn不bù賢xián，則zé固gù可kě放fàng與yǔ？」孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「有yǒu伊yī尹yǐn之zhī志zhì，則zé可kě；無wú伊yī尹yǐn之zhī志zhì，則zé篡cuàn也yě。」

Gong Sun Chou said, 'Yi Yin said, "I cannot be near and see him so disobedient to reason," and therewith he banished Tai Jia to Tong. The people were much pleased. When Tai Jia became virtuous, he brought him back, and the people were again much pleased. When worthies are ministers, may they indeed banish their sovereigns in this way when they are not virtuous?' Mencius replied, 'If they have the same purpose as Yi Yin, they may. If they have not the same purpose, it would be usurpation.'