Li Lou I · 孟子 4A.3

Passage 03

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「三sān代dài之zhī得dé天tiān下xià也yě以yǐ仁rén，其qí失shī天tiān下xià也yě以yǐ不bù仁rén。國guó之zhī所suǒ以yǐ廢fèi興xīng存cún亡wáng者zhě亦yì然rán。天tiān子zǐ不bù仁rén，不bù保bǎo四sì海hǎi；諸zhū侯hóu不bù仁rén，不bù保bǎo社shè稷jì；卿qīng大dài夫fu不bù仁rén，不bù保bǎo宗zōng廟miào；士shì庶shù人rén不bù仁rén，不bù保bǎo四sì體tǐ。今jīn惡è死sǐ亡wáng而ér樂lè不bù仁rén，是shì由yóu惡è醉zuì而ér強qiáng酒jiǔ。」

Mencius said, 'It was by benevolence that the three dynasties gained the throne, and by not being benevolent that they lost it. It is by the same means that the decaying and flourishing, the preservation and perishing, of States are determined. If the sovereign be not benevolent, he cannot preserve the throne from passing from him. If the Head of a State be not benevolent, he cannot preserve his rule. If a high noble or great officer be not benevolent, he cannot preserve his ancestral temple. If a scholar or common man be not benevolent, be cannot preserve his four limbs. Now they hate death and ruin, and yet delight in being not benevolent - this is like hating to be drunk, and yet being strong to drink wine!'