Mencius s translation of Gongsun Choushang The original text and translation of Mencius Gongsun Chou

Gongsun Chou asked, the master should be in Qi, and the work of Guan Zhong and Yan Zi can be repeated. Mencius said, Zicheng Qi people are also, and they know Guan Zhong and Yan Zi. Or ask Zeng Xi and say, which is the best of my son and my son.

Zeng Xi suddenly said, my ancestors are afraid. Said, then my son and Guan Zhong are virtuous. Zeng Xi was displeased, and said, how can you compare it to Guan Zhong.

Guan Zhong is as special as he is, he is as good as he is in national politics for a long time, and his merits are as humble as he is.

Dare to ask the master, it is evil. Gongsun Chou asked, "Excuse me, what is the teacher good at?" He said, "I know that I am good at nurturing my heroic spirit."

Mencius said, "I can recognize all kinds of speech, and I am good at cultivating my heroic spirit." "Dare to ask what it means to be heroic. Gongsun Chou said, "May I ask what is the spirit of Haoran." ”。

Mencius said: "Aren't Yaren benevolent to Hanren? The arrow person is afraid not to hurt people, and the letter person is afraid to hurt people.

The same goes for the sorcerer. Therefore, the technique must not be careless. Confucius said:

Liren is beautiful, choose not to be benevolent, how can you be wise? 'Husband, the lord of heaven, and the house of man. Mo Zhi is not benevolent, it is unwise.

Unkind, unwise, rude, and unjust, and servant. People are ashamed to serve, and people are ashamed to be bows, and people are ashamed to be arrows. If you are ashamed, you should be benevolent.

The benevolent person is like shooting: the shooter is the one who shoots himself and then sends it, but does not hit it, does not complain about himself, but seeks his own. ”

Mencius said, "Is he who makes arrows less unloving than he who makes armor?" The arrow-makers are afraid that they will not hurt people, and the armor-makers are afraid that the armor will break and hurt people, and the completely different ideas are determined by their professions.

The same goes for the sorcerer who seeks happiness and longevity for people, and the carpenter who makes coffins for people and hopes for their early death. Therefore, a person must be cautious in choosing a career. Confucius said:

There is a custom of benevolence in the alley, and people think that this alley is good. Choosing a place to live and not knowing how to choose such an alley, can this ** be said to be smart? 'Benevolence is the most honorable title given by God, and it is the safest dwelling place for people.

Knowing that there is no obstacle but not doing benevolence, this is where people are not smart. If a person is unkind, unwise, rude, and unrighteous, he is only worthy to be a servant of others. To be a servant and yet to be ashamed to serve others is as a bow-maker is ashamed to make a bow, and an arrow-maker is ashamed to make an arrow.

If you feel ashamed, you might as well do it. The principle of benevolence is the same as that of archery, the archer first straightens his posture and then fires the arrow, and the arrow does not hit, not complaining about the person who is better than him, but just returning to find the reason from himself. ”