Mencius 1B.10
Mencius (孟子), Book 1, Part II: Liang Hui Wang II 梁惠王下
齊人伐燕，勝之。宣王問曰：「或謂寡人勿取，或謂寡人取之。以萬乘之國伐萬乘之國，五旬而舉之，人力不至於此。不取，必有天殃。取之，何如？」孟子對曰：「取之而燕民悅，則取之。古之人有行之者，武王是也。取之而燕民不悅，則勿取。古之人有行之者，文王是也。以萬乘之國伐萬乘之國，簞食壺漿，以迎王師。豈有他哉？避水火也。如水益深，如火益熱，亦運而已矣。」
The people of Qi attacked Yan, and conquered it. The king Xuan asked, saying, 'Some tell me not to take possession of it for myself, and some tell me to take possession of it. For a kingdom of ten thousand chariots, attacking another of ten thousand chariots, to complete the conquest of it in fifty days, is an achievement beyond mere human strength. If I do not take possession of it, calamities from Heaven will surely come upon me. What do you say to my taking possession of it?'
Mencius replied, 'If the people of Yan will be pleased with your taking possession of it, then do so. Among the ancients there was one who acted on this principle, namely king Wu. If the people of Yan will not be pleased with your taking possession of it, then do not do so. Among the ancients there was one who acted on this principle, namely king Wen. When, with all the strength of your country of ten thousand chariots, you attacked another country of ten thousand chariots, and the people brought baskets of rice and vessels of congee, to meet your Majesty's host, was there any other reason for this but that they hoped to escape out of fire and water? If you make the water more deep and the fire more fierce, they will in like manner make another revolution.'
Character glossary
- 齊qíeven, uniform, of equal length
- 人rénman, person; people
- 伐fácut down, subjugate, attack
- 燕yànlovebird, swallow
- 勝shèngvictory; to excel, to truimph
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 宣xuānto proclaim, to declare, to announce; su
- 王wángking, ruler; royal; surname
- 問wènto ask about, to inquire after
- 曰yuēto speak; to say
- 或huòor, either, else; maybe, perhaps, possib
- 謂wèito call, to say, to tell; name, title; m
- 寡guǎwidowed; friendless, alone
- 勿wùmust not, do not; without, never
- 取qǔto take, to receive, to obtain; to selec
- 以yǐaccording to; so as to; because of; then
- 萬wànten thousand; innumerable
- 乘chéngride, mount; to make use of; to ascend;
- 國guócountry, nation, state; national
- 五wǔfive; surname
- 旬xúnten-day period; period of time
- 而érand, and then, and yet; but
- 舉jǔto raise; to recommend; to praise
- 力lìstrength, power; capability, influence
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
- 至zhìreach, arrive; very, extremely
- 於yúat, in, on; to, from; alas!
- 此cǐthis, these; in this case, then
- 必bìsurely, certainly; must; will
- 有yǒuto have, to own, to possess; to exist
- 天tiānsky, heaven; god, celestial
- 殃yāngmisfortune, disaster, calamity
- 何héwhat, why, where, which, how
- 如rúas, as if, like, such as, supposing
- 孟mèngfirst in a series; great, eminent
- 子zison, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thin
- 對duìcorrect, right; facing, opposed
- 民míncitizens, subjects; a nation's people
- 悅yuècontented, gratified, pleased
- 則zérule, law, regulation; grades
- 古gǔold, classic, ancient
- 行xíngto go, to walk, to move; professional
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 武wǔmilitary; martial, warlike
- 是shìto be; indeed, right, yes; okay
- 也yěalso, too
- 文wénculture, literature, writing
- 簞dāna small bamboo basket for rice
- 食shífood; to eat
- 壺hújar, pot, jug, vase; surname
- 漿jiāngpulp, starch, syrup; a thick fluid
- 迎yíngto welcome, to receive, to greet
- 師shīteacher, professional, master
- 豈qǐwhat; how
- 他tāother, another; he, she, it
- 哉zāifinal exclamatory particle
- 避bìto avoid, to turn away; to escape, to hi
- 水shuǐwater, liquid, lotion, juice
- 火huǒfire, flame; to burn; anger, rage
- 益yìto profit, to benefit; advantage
Passages with shared wording
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0); Chinese Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.