Mencius. Book 4, Part 1, Chapter 2.
Book 4, Le Low. Part 1.
1. Mencius said, "The compass and square produce perfect circles and squares. By the sages, the human relations are perfectly exhibited.
2. "He who as a sovereign would perfectly discharge the duties of a sovereign, and he who as a minister would perfectly discharge the duties of a minister, have only to imitate ‹ the one Yaou, and the other Shun. He who does not serve his sovereign as Shun served yaou, does not respect his sovereign, and he who does not rule his people as Yaou ruled his, injures his people.
3. "Confucius said, 'There are but two courses, which can be pursued, that of virtue and its opposite.'
4. "A soveriegn who carries the oppression of his people to the highest pitch, will himself be slain, and his kingdom will perish. If one stop short of the highest pitch, his life notwithstanding be in danger, and his kingdom will be weakened. He will be styled 'The dark,' or 'The cruel,' and though he may have filial sons and affectionate grandsons, they will not be able in a hundred generations to change the designation.
5. "This is what is intended in the words of the 'Book of Poetry,'
'The beacon of Yin was not remote,
It was in the time of the sovereign of Hea.' "
Book 4, Le Low. Part 1.
1. Mencius said, "The compass and square produce perfect circles and squares. By the sages, the human relations are perfectly exhibited.
2. "He who as a sovereign would perfectly discharge the duties of a sovereign, and he who as a minister would perfectly discharge the duties of a minister, have only to imitate ‹ the one Yaou, and the other Shun. He who does not serve his sovereign as Shun served yaou, does not respect his sovereign, and he who does not rule his people as Yaou ruled his, injures his people.
3. "Confucius said, 'There are but two courses, which can be pursued, that of virtue and its opposite.'
4. "A soveriegn who carries the oppression of his people to the highest pitch, will himself be slain, and his kingdom will perish. If one stop short of the highest pitch, his life notwithstanding be in danger, and his kingdom will be weakened. He will be styled 'The dark,' or 'The cruel,' and though he may have filial sons and affectionate grandsons, they will not be able in a hundred generations to change the designation.
5. "This is what is intended in the words of the 'Book of Poetry,'
'The beacon of Yin was not remote,
It was in the time of the sovereign of Hea.' "
Footer section, if any
Text source: The Works of Mencius. Translated by James Legge.
Footer section, if any
Footer section, if any