Not Mencius, but Laozi's Tao Te Ching. The original sentence is: governing a big country, if you cook small and fresh. The original text is: governing a big country, if you cook small and fresh. Reaching the world by Tao is not a ghost; Unless its ghost is not a god, its god does not hurt people; A saint won't hurt people unless his god won't hurt people. Husband and wife don't hurt each other, so morality returns. [translation]

Governing a big country is like frying a small fish. Governing the world with Tao, ghosts and gods can't play a role, not only ghosts can't play a role, but ghosts can't hurt people. Not only can ghosts not hurt people, but saints can't hurt people if they have the means. In this way, ghosts and gods and wise saints will not harm people, and people can enjoy the grace of virtue.