Jin Xin II · 孟子 7B.34

Passage 34

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「說shuō大dà人rén，則zé藐miǎo之zhī，勿wù視shì其qí巍wēi巍wēi然rán。堂táng高gāo數shù仞rèn，榱cuī題tí數shù尺chǐ，我wǒ得dé志zhì弗fú為wéi也yě。食shí前qián方fāng丈zhàng，侍shì妾qiè數shù百bǎi人rén，我wǒ得dé志zhì弗fú為wéi也yě。般bān樂lè飲yǐn酒jiǔ，驅qū騁chěng田tián獵liè，後hòu車jū千qiān乘chéng，我wǒ得dé志zhì弗fú為wéi也yě。在zài彼bǐ者zhě，皆jiē我wǒ所suǒ不bù為wéi也yě；在zài我wǒ者zhě，皆jiē古gǔ之zhī制zhì也yě，吾wú何hé畏wèi彼bǐ哉zāi？」

Mencius said, 'Those who give counsel to the great should despise them, and not look at their pomp and display. Halls several times eight cubits high, with beams projecting several cubits; these, if my wishes were to be realized, I would not have. Food spread before me over ten cubits square, and attendants and concubines to the amount of hundreds; these, though my wishes were realized, I would not have. Pleasure and wine, and the dash of hunting, with thousands of chariots following after me; these, though my wishes were realized, I would not have. What they esteem are what I would have nothing to do with; what I esteem are the rules of the ancients. Why should I stand in awe of them?'