Mencius. Book 3, Part 2, Chapter 6.
Book 3, T'ang Wan Kung. Part 2.
1. Mencius said to Tae Puh-shing, "I see that you are desiring your king to be virtuous, and I will plainly tell you how he may be made so. Suppose that there is a great officer of Ts'oo here, who wishes his son to learn the speech of Ts'e. Will he in that case employ a man of Ts'e as his tutor, or a man of Ts'oo?" "He will employ a man of Ts'e to teach him," said Puh-shing. Mencius went on, "If but one an of Ts'e be teaching him, and there be a multitude of men of Ts'oo continually shouring out about him, although his father beat him every day, wishing him to learn the speech of Ts'e, it will be impossible for him to do so. But in the same way, if he were to be taken and place for several years in Chwang or Yoh, though is father should beat him, wishing him to speak the language of Ts'oo, it would be impossible for him to do so.
2. "You supposed that See Keu-chow was a scholar of virtue, and you have got him placed in attendance on the king. Suppose that all in attendance on the king, old and young, high and low, were See Keu-chows, whom would the king have to do evil with? And suppose that all in attendance on the king, old and young, high and low, are not See Keu-chows, whom will the king have to do good with? What can one See Keu-chow do alone for the king of Sung?"
Book 3, T'ang Wan Kung. Part 2.
1. Mencius said to Tae Puh-shing, "I see that you are desiring your king to be virtuous, and I will plainly tell you how he may be made so. Suppose that there is a great officer of Ts'oo here, who wishes his son to learn the speech of Ts'e. Will he in that case employ a man of Ts'e as his tutor, or a man of Ts'oo?" "He will employ a man of Ts'e to teach him," said Puh-shing. Mencius went on, "If but one an of Ts'e be teaching him, and there be a multitude of men of Ts'oo continually shouring out about him, although his father beat him every day, wishing him to learn the speech of Ts'e, it will be impossible for him to do so. But in the same way, if he were to be taken and place for several years in Chwang or Yoh, though is father should beat him, wishing him to speak the language of Ts'oo, it would be impossible for him to do so.
2. "You supposed that See Keu-chow was a scholar of virtue, and you have got him placed in attendance on the king. Suppose that all in attendance on the king, old and young, high and low, were See Keu-chows, whom would the king have to do evil with? And suppose that all in attendance on the king, old and young, high and low, are not See Keu-chows, whom will the king have to do good with? What can one See Keu-chow do alone for the king of Sung?"
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Text source: The Works of Mencius. Translated by James Legge.
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