King Hui of Liang II · 孟子 1B.14

Passage 14

滕téng文wén公gōng問wèn曰yuē：「齊qí人rén將jiāng築zhù薛xuē，吾wú甚shèn恐kǒng，如rú之zhī何hé則zé可kě？」孟mèng子zǐ對duì曰yuē：「昔xī者zhě大dà王wáng居jū邠bīn，狄dí人rén侵qīn之zhī，去qù之zhī岐qí山shān之zhī下xià居jū焉yān。非fēi擇zé而ér取qǔ之zhī，不bù得dé已yǐ也yě。苟gǒu為wéi善shàn，後hòu世shì子zǐ孫sūn必bì有yǒu王wáng者zhě矣yǐ。君jūn子zǐ創chuàng業yè垂chuí統tǒng，為wéi可kě繼jì也yě。若ruò夫fū成chéng功gōng，則zé天tiān也yě。君jūn如rú彼bǐ何hé哉zāi？強qiáng為wéi善shàn而ér已yǐ矣yǐ。」

The duke Wen of Teng asked Mencius, saying, 'The people of Qi are going to fortify Xue. The movement occasions me great alarm. What is the proper course for me to take in the case?' Mencius replied, 'Formerly, when king Tai dwelt in Bin, the barbarians of the north were continually making incursions upon it. He therefore left it, went to the foot of mount Qi, and there took up his residence. He did not take that situation, as having selected it. It was a matter of necessity with him. If you do good, among your descendants, in after generations, there shall be one who will attain to the royal dignity. A prince lays the foundation of the inheritance, and hands down the beginning which he has made, doing what may be continued by his successors. As to the accomplishment of the great result, that is with Heaven. What is that Qi to you, 0 prince? Be strong to do good. That is all your business.'