Li Lou I · 孟子 4A.28

Passage 28

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「天tiān下xià大dà悅yuè而ér將jiāng歸guī己jǐ，視shì天tiān下xià悅yuè而ér歸guī己jǐ，猶yóu草cǎo芥jiè也yě，惟wéi舜shùn爲wéi然rán。不bù得dé乎hū親qīn，不bù可kě以yǐ爲wéi人rén；不bú順shùn乎hū親qīn，不bù可kě以yǐ爲wéi子zǐ。舜shùn盡jìn事shì親qīn之zhī道dào，而ér瞽gǔ瞍sǒu厎dǐ豫yù。瞽gǔ瞍sǒu厎dǐ豫yù而ér天tiān下xià化huà；瞽gǔ瞍sǒu厎dǐ豫yù而ér天tiān下xià之zhī爲wéi父fù子zǐ者zhě定dìng。此cǐ之zhī謂wèi大dà孝xiào。」

Mencius said, 'Suppose the case of the whole kingdom turning in great delight to an individual to submit to him. To regard the whole kingdom thus turning to him in great delight but as a bundle of grass - only Shun was capable of this. He considered that if one could not get the hearts of his parents he could not be considered a man, and that if he could not get to an entire accord with his parents, he could not be considered a son. By Shun's completely fulfilling everything by which a parent could be served, Gu Sou was brought to find delight in what was good. When Gu Sou was brought to find that delight, the whole kingdom was transformed. When Gu Sou was brought to find that delight, all fathers and sons in the kingdom were established in their respective duties. This is called great filial piety.'