Mencius. Book 4, Part 1, Chapter 3.
Book 4, Le Low. Part 1.

1. Mencius said, "It was by benevolence that the three dynasties gained the empire, and by not being benevolent that they lost it.

2. "It is by the same means that the decaying and flourishing, the preservation and perishing, of states are determined.

3. "If the emperor be not benevolent, he cannot preserve the empire from passing from him. If the sovereign of a state be not benevolent, he cannot preserve his kingdom. If a high noble or great officer be not benevolent, he cannot preserve his ancestral temple. If a scholar or commo man be not benevolent, he cannot preserve his four limbs.

4. "Now they hate death and ruin, and yet delight in being not benevolent; ‹ this is like hating to be drunk, and yet being strong to drink wine."

Text source: The Works of Mencius. Translated by James Legge.

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China - Ancient - Philosophy - Chinese - Chinese translation