Jin Xin I · 孟子 7A.32

Passage 32

公gōng孫sūn丑chǒu曰yuē：「《詩shī》曰yuē：『不bú素sù餐cān兮xī。』君jūn子zǐ之zhī不bù耕gēng而ér食shí，何hé也yě？」孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「君jūn子zǐ居jū是shì國guó也yě，其qí君jūn用yòng之zhī，則zé安ān富fù尊zūn榮róng；其qí子zǐ弟dì從cóng之zhī，則zé孝xiào弟dì忠zhōng信xìn。『不bú素sù餐cān兮xī』，孰shú大dà於wū是shì？」

Gong Sun Chou said, 'It is said, in the Book of Poetry, "He will not eat the bread of idleness!" How is it that we see superior men eating without labouring?' Mencius replied, 'When a superior man resides in a country, if its sovereign employ his counsels, he comes to tranquillity, wealth and glory. If the young in it follow his instructions, they become filial, obedient to their elders, true-hearted, and faithful. What greater example can there be than this of not eating the bread of idleness?'