King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Mencius 6B.9

Mencius (孟子), Book 6, Part II: Gaozi II 告子下

孟子曰:「今之事君者曰:『我能為君辟土地,充府庫。』今之所謂良臣,古之所謂民賊也。君不鄉道,不志於仁,而求富之,是富桀也。『我能為君約與國,戰必克。』今之所謂良臣,古之所謂民賊也。君不鄉道,不志於仁,而求為之強戰,是輔桀也。由今之道,無變今之俗,雖與之天下,不能一朝居也。」

Mencius said, 'Those who now-a-days serve their sovereigns say, "We can for our sovereign enlarge the limits of the cultivated ground, and fill his treasuries and arsenals." Such persons are now-a-days called "Good ministers," but anciently they were called "Robbers of the people." If a sovereign follows not the right way, nor has his mind bent on benevolence, to seek to enrich him is to enrich a Jie. Or they will say, "We can for our sovereign form alliances with other States, so that our battles must be successful." Such persons are now-a-days called "Good ministers," but anciently they were called "Robbers of the people." If a sovereign follows not the right way, nor has his mind directed to benevolence, to seek to enrich him is to enrich a Jie. Although a prince, pursuing the path of the present day, and not changing its practices, were to have the throne given to him, he could not retain it for a single morning.'

James Legge (1861), The Works of Mencius, The Chinese Classics vol. 2 (1861; 2nd ed. 1895); romanization modernized on Wikisource — public domain.

Character glossary

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.

Last posts

  1. How Much Should Escrima Sticks Cost for Training
  2. Why Rattan Splinters and How to Tape It for Repairs
  3. Best Escrima Stick Bags for Durable Gear Protection
  4. Buying Fire-Hardened Rattan Sticks for Martial Arts
  5. Skinned vs Unskinned Rattan Sticks Choosing the Right Gear
  6. How Long Do Rattan Sticks Last in Heavy Contact Drills
  7. Are Foam Escrima Sticks Good for Kids and How to Choose
  8. Best Padded Escrima Sticks for Sparring and Drill Safety
  9. Choosing the Right Escrima Stick Diameter for Your Hand Size
  10. What Length Escrima Sticks Should You Buy for Training