Mencius said: "Shun was born in the Dingmu ①, Fu Shuo ② was lifted between the banzhu ③, and Jiao Ge (4) was lifted

among the fish and salt. Guan Yiwu was promoted to the earth (5), Sun Shuao was promoted to the sea (6), and Baili Xi was promoted to the city (7).

Therefore, when heaven is about to assign a great responsibility to a person, he must first work hard on his mind and body. Hungry his skin, depleted his body,

His actions are disturbed, so his mind and forbearance have been (8) beneficial to what he could not do, and then he can change;

< p>Trapped in the heart, balance (9) based on considerations, and then act; sign (10) based on color, issued by sound, and then metaphorical.

Legalist Fu Shi (11), then out. Invincible to foreign patients, the country will be destroyed. Then it will be known that he was born in sorrow and died in happiness."

Notes

①玎 (quǎn) mu: field, field. ②Fu said (yuè): He was a prisoner during the time of Wuding of Yin Dynasty.

He built a wall in Fu Dian. He was later discovered by Wuding and promoted to prime minister. ③Ban building: A kind of wall building work, in which two walls are filled with soil and compacted. ④Jiao Ge (gé): A native of King Zhou of Yin, he once made a living by selling fish and salt.

King Wen of Zhou recommended him to Zhou, and later assisted King Wu of Zhou. ⑤Guan Yiwu: Guan Zhong. Scholar: This refers to the prison manager. At that time, Duke Huan of Qi and Gongzi Jiu fought for the throne. After Gongzi Jiu failed, Guan Zhong fled with him to the state of Lu. Duke Huan of Qi knew that he was a virtuous man, so he asked the king of Lu to kill Gongzi Jiu and take Guan Zhong into custody. Handle it yourself.

The king of Lu then sent prison administrators to escort Guan Zhong back to his country. As a result, Duke Huan of Qi appointed Guan Zhong as prime minister. (6) Sun Shuao:

He was a hermit from Chu State in the Spring and Autumn Period. He lived in seclusion by the sea. He was discovered by the King of Chu and later appointed as Ling Yin (prime minister). (7) Baili Xi was brought to the market: The sage Baili Xi in the Spring and Autumn Period was living in Chu State. Duke Mu of Qin bought him back for the price of five sheepskins.

Ren is the prime minister, so it is said that he is "raised in the market". (8) Zeng: Same as "increase". (9) Heng:

Tong "Heng" refers to Hengsi. (10) Symptom: representation, performance. (11) Legalist Fu Shi: Legalist, a minister with laws

; Fu, under the guise of "Bi", assists; Fu Shi is an assistant sage.

Common translations

Mencius said: "Shun grew up from working in the fields, Fu Yue was selected from the work of building walls,

Jiao Ge was selected Selected from the fish and salt trade, Guan Zhong was promoted to the position of prisoner, Sun Shuao was discovered from the seaside, and Baili Xi was selected from the market. Therefore, God will send a major task to a certain person. For a person,

his will must first be tempered, his muscles and bones must be tired, his body must be hungry,

make him suffer from poverty. Suffering, things never go smoothly. This shakes his mind, strengthens his temper, and increases his talents. People always have to make mistakes before they can correct them;

Think deeply before you can work hard; show it in your face and express it in your voice, then you can be understood.

A country does not have law-abiding ministers and assistants. It is easy for a wise man to lose his country without the worries of hostile countries. From this, we can know that worries can make people survive, but comfort and enjoyment are enough to destroy them. ”