Mencius 4B.2
Mencius (孟子), Book 4, Part II: Li Lou II 離婁下
子產聽鄭國之政,以其乘輿濟人於溱洧。孟子曰:「惠而不知為政。歲十一月徒杠成,十二月輿梁成,民未病涉也。君子平其政,行辟人可也。焉得人人而濟之?故為政者,每人而悅之,日亦不足矣。」
When Zi Chan was chief minister of the State of Zheng, he would convey people across the Zhen and Wei in his own carriage. Mencius said, 'It was kind, but showed that he did not understand the practice of government. When in the eleventh month of the year the foot-bridges are completed, and the carriage-bridges in the twelfth month, the people have not the trouble of wading. Let a governor conduct his rule on principles of equal justice, and, when he goes abroad, he may cause people to be removed out of his path. But how can he convey everybody across the rivers? It follows that if a governor will try to please everybody, he will find the days not sufficient for his work.'
Character glossary
- 子zison, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thin
- 產chǎnto give birth, to bring forth, to produc
- 聽tīngto hear, to listen; to understand; to ob
- 鄭zhèngstate in today's Henan; surname
- 國guócountry, nation, state; national
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 政zhènggovernment, politics
- 以yǐaccording to; so as to; because of; then
- 其qíhis, her, its, their; that
- 乘chéngride, mount; to make use of; to ascend;
- 輿yúcart, palanquin, sedan chair
- 濟jìto aid, to help, to relieve; to ferry ac
- 人rénman, person; people
- 於yúat, in, on; to, from; alas!
- 溱qína river in Henan province
- 洧wěia river in Henan province
- 孟mèngfirst in a series; great, eminent
- 曰yuēto speak; to say
- 惠huìfavor, benefit, blessing, kindness
- 而érand, and then, and yet; but
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
- 知zhīto know, to perceive, to comprehend
- 為wèito do, to act; to handle, to govern; to
- 歲suìyear; years old, age; harvest
- 十shíten, tenth; complete; perfect
- 一yīone; a, an; alone
- 月yuèmoon; month
- 徒túdisciple, follower; only, merely; in vai
- 杠gāngpole, bar; lever, crowbar
- 成chéngto accomplish; to become; to complete, t
- 二èrtwo; twice
- 梁liángbridge; beam, rafter; surname
- 民míncitizens, subjects; a nation's people
- 未wèinot yet; 8th terrestrial branch
- 病bìngsickness, illness, disease
- 涉shèsconcerned, involved; to experience; to
- 也yěalso, too
- 君jūnsovereign, ruler, prince, monarch, chief
- 平píngflat, level, even; peaceful
- 行xíngto go, to walk, to move; professional
- 辟pìlaw, rule; to open up, to develop
- 可kěmay, can, -able; possibly
- 焉yānwhy? where? how?; strange; thereupon, th
- 得déto obtain, to get, to acquire; suitable,
- 故gùreason, cause; happening, instance
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 每měieach, every
- 悅yuècontented, gratified, pleased
- 日rìsun; day; daytime
- 亦yìalso, too; likewise
- 足zúfoot; to attain, to satisfy; enough
- 矣yǐparticle of completed action
Passages with shared wording
- Zhuangzi Robber Chê
- Mencius 3A.3
- Analects 14.10
- Zhuangzi Kêng Sang Ch’u
- Zhuangzi Lieh Tzŭ
- Zhuangzi The Empire
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.