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.'
Character glossary
- 孟mèngfirst in a series; great, eminent
- 子zison, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thin
- 曰yuēto speak; to say
- 今jīnmodern, current; today, now
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 事shìaffair, matter, business; to serve; acci
- 君jūnsovereign, ruler, prince, monarch, chief
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 我wǒI, me, my; our, us
- 能néngcan, may; capable, full of energy
- 為wèito do, to act; to handle, to govern; to
- 辟pìlaw, rule; to open up, to develop
- 土tǔsoil, earth; items made of earth
- 地deearth, ground, soil; land, region; struc
- 充chōngto fill, to supply; to be full
- 府fǔprefect; prefecture, government
- 庫kùarmory, treasury, warehouse
- 所suǒplace, location; "that which", a particl
- 謂wèito call, to say, to tell; name, title; m
- 良liánggood, virtuous, respectable
- 臣chénminister, statesman, official, vassal
- 古gǔold, classic, ancient
- 民míncitizens, subjects; a nation's people
- 賊zéithief, traitor; cunning, sly
- 也yěalso, too
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
- 鄉xiāngcountry, village; rural
- 道dàomethod, way; path, road
- 志zhìdetermination, will; mark, sign; to reco
- 於yúat, in, on; to, from; alas!
- 仁rénbenevolent, humane, kind
- 而érand, and then, and yet; but
- 求qiúto seek; to request, to demand; to besee
- 富fùabundant, ample; rich, wealthy
- 是shìto be; indeed, right, yes; okay
- 桀jiéchicken roost; ancient emperor
- 約yuētreaty, covenant, agreement
- 與yǔand; with; to; for; to give, to grant
- 國guócountry, nation, state; national
- 戰zhànwar, fighting, battle
- 必bìsurely, certainly; must; will
- 克kèto subdue, to restrain, to overcome; use
- 強qiángstrong, powerful, energetic
- 輔fǔside road; to assist, to coach, to tutor
- 由yóucause, reason; from
- 無wúno, not; lacking, -less
- 變biànto change, to transform, to alter; rebel
- 俗súsocial customs; vulgar, unrefined
- 雖suīalthough, even though
- 天tiānsky, heaven; god, celestial
- 下xiàbelow, underneath; inferior; to bring do
- 一yīone; a, an; alone
- 朝cháoto face; direct, facing; dynasty; mornin
- 居jūto live, to reside; to dwell; to sit
Passages with shared wording
- Mencius 4A.14
- Mencius 1A.7
- Mencius 4A.2
- Zhuangzi Hsü Wu Kuei
- Zhuangzi On Declining Power
- Zhuangzi Robber Chê
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.