Mencius. Book 2, Part 2, Chapter 12.
Book 2, Kung-Sun Ch'ow. Part 2.
1. When Mencius had left Ts'e, Yin Sze spoke about him to others, saying, "If he did not know that the king could not be mad a T'ang or a Woo, that showed his want of intelligence. If he knew that he could not be made such, and came notwithstanding, that shows he was seeking his own benefit. He came a thousand li to wait on the king; becasue he did not find in him a ruler to suit him, he took his leave, but how dilatory and lingering was his departure, stopping three nights before he quit Chow! I am dissatisfied on account of this."
2. The disciple Kaou informed Mencius of these remarks.
3. Mencius said, "How should Yin Sze know me! When I came a thousand li to wait on the king, it was what I desired to do. When I went away because I did not find in him a ruler to suit me, was that what I desired to do? I felt myself constrained to do it.
4. "When I stopped three nights before I quit Chow, in my own mind I still considered my departue speedy. I was hoping that the king might change. If the king had changed, he would certainly have recalled me.
5. "When I quit Chow, and the king had not sent after me, then, and only till then, was my mind resolutely bent on returning to Tsow. But, notwithstanding that, how can it be said that I give up the king? The king, after all, is one who may be made to do what is good. If he were to use me, would it be for the happiness of the people of Ts'e only? It would be for the happiness of the people of the whole empire. I am hoping that the king will change. I am daily hoping for this.
6. "Am I like one of your little-minded people? They will remonstrate with their prince, and on their remonstrance not being accepted, they get angry, and, with their passion displayed in their countenance, they take their leave, and travel with all their strength for a whole day, before they will stop for the night."
7. When Yin Sze heard this explanation, he said, "I am indeed a small man."
Book 2, Kung-Sun Ch'ow. Part 2.
1. When Mencius had left Ts'e, Yin Sze spoke about him to others, saying, "If he did not know that the king could not be mad a T'ang or a Woo, that showed his want of intelligence. If he knew that he could not be made such, and came notwithstanding, that shows he was seeking his own benefit. He came a thousand li to wait on the king; becasue he did not find in him a ruler to suit him, he took his leave, but how dilatory and lingering was his departure, stopping three nights before he quit Chow! I am dissatisfied on account of this."
2. The disciple Kaou informed Mencius of these remarks.
3. Mencius said, "How should Yin Sze know me! When I came a thousand li to wait on the king, it was what I desired to do. When I went away because I did not find in him a ruler to suit me, was that what I desired to do? I felt myself constrained to do it.
4. "When I stopped three nights before I quit Chow, in my own mind I still considered my departue speedy. I was hoping that the king might change. If the king had changed, he would certainly have recalled me.
5. "When I quit Chow, and the king had not sent after me, then, and only till then, was my mind resolutely bent on returning to Tsow. But, notwithstanding that, how can it be said that I give up the king? The king, after all, is one who may be made to do what is good. If he were to use me, would it be for the happiness of the people of Ts'e only? It would be for the happiness of the people of the whole empire. I am hoping that the king will change. I am daily hoping for this.
6. "Am I like one of your little-minded people? They will remonstrate with their prince, and on their remonstrance not being accepted, they get angry, and, with their passion displayed in their countenance, they take their leave, and travel with all their strength for a whole day, before they will stop for the night."
7. When Yin Sze heard this explanation, he said, "I am indeed a small man."
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Text source: The Works of Mencius. Translated by James Legge.
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