every man is responsible for the rise and fall of a country (ti ā n xi à x and ng wá ng, pǐ fū yǒu zé): every ordinary person is responsible for the rise and fall of a country.
ordinary man: in ancient times, it refers to men among civilians, and also refers to ordinary people in general.
responsibility: responsibility.
from "The Record of Japanese Knowledge. The Beginning" written by Gu Yanwu in Qing Dynasty: Knowing the past protects the world, and then knowing it protects its country. Those who protect the country, their princes and their ministers seek it; Those who protect the world are mean to everyone, and they have no responsibility.
Therefore, we must first know how to protect the world and then know how to protect the country. Protecting the country is what the rulers who are in the position of monarch and liegeman should consider; Protecting the world, even ordinary people with low status have the responsibility.