Jin Xin II · 孟子 7B.15

Passage 15

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「聖shèng人rén，百bǎi世shì之zhī師shī也yě，伯bó夷yí、柳liǔ下xià惠huì是shì也yě。故gù聞wén伯bó夷yí之zhī風fēng者zhě，頑wán夫fū廉lián，懦nuò夫fū有yǒu立lì志zhì。聞wén柳liǔ下xià惠huì之zhī風fēng者zhě，薄báo夫fū敦dūn，鄙bǐ夫fū寬kuān。奮fèn乎hū百bǎi世shì之zhī上shàng，百bǎi世shì之zhī下xià聞wén者zhě莫mò不bù興xīng起qǐ也yě。非fēi聖shèng人rén而ér能néng若ruò是shì乎hū？而ér況kuàng於wū親qīn炙zhì之zhī者zhě乎hū？」

Mencius said, 'A sage is the teacher of a hundred generations - this is true of Bo Yi and Hui of Liu Xia. Therefore when men now bear the character of Bo Yi, the corrupt become pure, and the weak acquire determination. When they hear the character of Hui of Liu Xia, the mean become generous, and the niggardly become liberal. Those two made themselves distinguished a hundred generations ago, and after a hundred generations, those who hear of them, are all aroused in this manner. Could such effects be produced by them, if they had not been sages? And how much more did they affect those who were in contiguity with them, and felt their inspiring influence!'