Mencius said: "It doesn't matter, this is the expression of benevolence, because you only see cows, but not sheep." A gentleman can't bear to watch animals die alive; I can't bear to eat their meat when I hear them whine and moan. Because of this, a gentleman should put the kitchen away from himself. Qi Xuanwang asked, "Have you ever heard of Qi Huan and Jin Wen?" "
Qi Xuanwang asked, "Can you tell me something about Qi Huangong and Jin Wengong?"
Mencius said to him, "Zhong Ni's followers have nothing to do with literature, but they have nothing to spread in the future, and I have never heard of it. If there is no way, what is the king? "
Mencius replied, "Confucius' disciples didn't talk about Qi Huangong and Jin Wengong, so they didn't pass down from generation to generation, so I haven't heard of them. If you insist on what I said, can you tell me the truth of unifying the world with benevolence? "
He said, "Why is virtue king?"
King Xuan asked, "How does Benevolence unify the world?"
He said: "Protecting the people is king, and you can't defend yourself."
Mencius replied, "No one can stop him from comforting the people and ruling the world."
He said, "If I am a person, how can I protect the people?"
King Xuan asked, "Can a monarch like me care about the people?"
Say, "Yes."
Mencius said, "Yes."
Yue: "How do you know I can do it?"
King Xuan asked, "Where did you know I could?"
He said: "I heard from Hu Weiqi that the king of Qi was sitting in the hall. When he saw him passing under the hall with a cow, he said,' What is a cow?' Yes, it says, "I want to use this bell." The king said,' Give it up! I can't bear to hug him. If he is innocent, he will die. "Yes:' But why use a clock?' Yue:' What can be abolished? Trade sheep for them! Know nothing? "
Mencius said: "I heard such a thing from Hu Bi: (once) Your Majesty was sitting in the main hall, and a man was passing by with a cow. Your majesty saw it and asked,' where are you taking the cow?' (The man) replied,' Use it to sacrifice the clock.' The king said,' Let it be! I can't bear to watch it tremble in fear and be dragged to death without guilt. "(The man) asked,' So no bells?' The king said,' How can you not? Replace it with a sheep! I wonder if this is the case. "
Say, "Yes."
King Xuan said, "There is such a thing."
He said: "The heart is king. The people love the king, and I know the king can't tolerate it. "
Mencius said: "such a heart is enough to unify the whole country!" People think that the king is stingy. I knew the king couldn't stand it. "
Wang said, "Of course; There are sincere people. Although Qi is young, why do I love a cow? Just can't bear to be swaddled. If I am innocent, I will die, so I want to change sheep. "
Xuanwang said, "Well, there are indeed people who talk like this. Although Qi is small, how can he spare a cow? It was because I couldn't bear to watch it tremble in fear and was dragged away to kill it, so I changed it into a sheep. "
He said: "The king and the people love him no different. Small is easy to be big, and evil is known? If Wang hides his innocence and dies, what about cattle and sheep? "
Mencius said, "Your Majesty, don't blame the people for thinking that you are stingy. How can they understand what you did when you replaced Daniel with Lamb? Your Majesty, if poor animals are killed innocently, what's the difference between cattle and sheep?
Wang smiled and said, "Why are you sincere? I don't love its wealth, but I can easily exchange it with sheep. It is appropriate for the people to say that I love it. "
Wang Xuan smiled and said, "What kind of psychology is this? I'm not stingy with money. I trade sheep for cattle. No wonder the people want to say that I am stingy. "
He said, "This is harmless, but it is a kind of technology. I can't see the sheep when I see the cow. A gentleman is to an animal, seeing its life, and can't bear to see its death; I can't bear to eat its meat when I hear its voice. Far cooking is also a gentleman. "
Mencius said: "It doesn't matter, this is the expression of benevolence, because you only see cows, but not sheep." A gentleman can't bear to watch animals die alive; I can't bear to eat their meat when I hear them whine and moan. Because of this, a gentleman should put the kitchen away from himself. "
Wang said: ⑤: The Book of Songs says:' If others have a heart, they can worry about it.' 6. The master is also called. I did what I had to do, but I asked for it, not really. What the master said is of great concern to me. Why is this heart suitable for the king? "
King Xuan said happily, "The poem says,' I can guess other people's thoughts.' Just like the old man said. I did it, and in turn I reasoned why I did it, and I couldn't figure it out in my heart. Teacher Wang's words have enlightened my mind a little. Why does this psychology conform to the king? "
Yue: "There was a gentleman who said,' I am strong enough to lift a hundred kings, but not enough to lift a feather; Smart enough to see the end of autumn, but not the salary. "What about Wang Xu?"
Mencius said: "if someone says to the king,' I am strong and strong, I can lift three thousand pounds, but I can't lift a feather;" My eyesight is good enough to see the tips of wild animals in autumn, but I can't see a car full of firewood. "Will the king believe it? "
Say, "No."
Xuanwang said, "No."
"This kind of elegance is enough to become a beast, but not a person. What is this? However, if you don't lift a feather, you won't exert yourself; If you can't see your salary, you don't need to be clear; People can't see insurance, so they don't have to be kind. Therefore, if the king is not king, he will not be king. "
(Mencius said:) "Today (the king) is full of kindness to livestock, and merits are not in the people. What is the reason? " Obviously, a feather can't be lifted because it refuses to use strength; A car full of firewood is invisible because it refuses to use its sight; People are not caressed by you because they refuse to be kind. Therefore, if a king cannot unify the world with benevolence, he will not do it, not fail to do it. "
Say, "What's the difference between what you don't do and what you won't do?"
King Xuan asked, "What's the difference between not doing it and not doing it?"
He said: "I can cross the North Sea on Mount Tai, and people say,'No.' No, I can't. Breaking branches for the elderly, people say,' No! Do it if you don't do it. Therefore, the king is not the king, not relying on Mount Tai to surpass the North Sea and so on; The king is not a king, but a broken branch or something. "
Mencius said: "I jumped over the North Sea with Mount Tai in my arms and said to people,' I can't.' This is really impossible. Bow to the old man and say,' I can't do it. This is not impossible, not impossible. Therefore, the king did not rule the country with benevolence, and did not belong to the category of leaping over the North Sea with Mount Tai. Kings don't rule the world with benevolence, which belongs to the category of bending over and saluting the elderly. "
"I am old and people are old; Young people, young people, young people. The world is in your hands. " The poem says, "Punishment is for widows, not for brothers, but for families." ⑦ It's just a matter of words and feelings. Therefore, kindness is enough to protect the whole world, but not kindness can't protect your wife. Ancient people were so great because they were good at pushing what they did. Today's kindness is enough for animals, but not enough for people. What's the only thing? Yes, and then know the weight; Degree, then know the length. Everything is natural, and the heart is what it is. Wang, please measure it! Suppress Wang Xing's soldiers and dangerous officials, blame the governors, and then get along with them? "
(Mencius added:) "Love your elders, and then love others' elders; Caress your own children, and then caress other people's children. The world can turn freely in the palm of your hand (it is easy to unify). The Book of Songs says:' Set an example for your wife first, and then influence your brothers well, so that you can run a family and make peace. In other words, this intention should be extended to all aspects. So your kindness is enough to appease the world. If you don't show kindness, even your wife and children will be unstable. The wise monarch in ancient times was far superior to ordinary people, for no other reason, but was good at spreading what he had done. Kindness is now applied to animals, but merit is not reflected in people. What is the reason? If you weigh it, you will know the weight; Measure it and you'll know the length. Everything is like this, especially the human heart. Your majesty, please think it over! Does the king want to incite the masses, put his men in danger, make enemies with other countries, and then be happy? "
The king said, "no, how can I be fast enough?" I will seek what I want. "
King Xuan said, "No, what am I happy about?" ? I want to use this to realize my greatest wish. "
He said, "What is the king's greatest wish?"
Mencius asked, "Can you tell me your king's greatest wish?"
Wang smiled and said nothing.
Wang Xuan just smiled.
Yue: "Because the fat is not enough for the mouth and mouth? Light is not warm enough for the body and the body? Suppressing color selection is not enough by eyes and? Not enough sound? Isn't it enough to place an order before? All the ministers of the king are competent, but is the king right? "
Mencius asked, "Is it because the fat and sweet food is not enough to enjoy?" ? Isn't soft and warm clothes enough for your health? Aren't bright colors enough for the eyes to see? Isn't the wonderful music enough for your ears? Aren't there enough waiters around? These are enough for your servant. Is that why your majesty is here? "
Said, "No, I didn't do it right."
King Xuan said, "No, that's not why I did it."
He said, "However, the king's great wish is clear. He wants to open up wasteland, go to Qin Chu, go to China and take care of Siyi. If you want what you want, you can also get fish from wood. "
Mencius said: "Then, the king's greatest wish can be known, that is, to expand his territory, so that Qin and Chu can worship, come to the Central Plains, and appease the surrounding ethnic groups. (However,) Pursuing wishes through practice is really climbing trees to catch fish. "
The king said, "What if it's good?"
Xuanwang asked, "Is it so serious?"
Holmium: "It's almost nothing. You can't fish, but there is no disaster. Whatever you want, do it wholeheartedly, and there will be disaster afterwards. "
Mencius said, "I'm afraid it's worse than this!" Catch fish on the tree, although you can't catch fish, but there will be no future trouble. If you do what you want to do, you will do it wholeheartedly, and there will be disaster in the end. "
He said, "Can you hear me?"
King Xuan asked, "Can you tell me?"
He said, "Who does your majesty think will win the battle between Zou and Chu?"
Mencius said, "Zou attacked Chu. Who does your king think will win? "
Said: "Chu people win."
King Xuan said, "Chu Guo Sheng."
He said: "However, a small entity cannot be the enemy of a large entity, a small entity cannot be the enemy of many entities, and a weak entity cannot be the enemy of a strong entity. A place in the sea, thousands of miles away, there is one in the collection. Why is it different from Zou's enemy Chu Tsai? It is also the opposite of the original. Today, the king is in power and benevolent, so that all the officials in the world want to stand in the king's dynasty, all the cultivators want to plow in the king's fields, all the businessmen want to hide in the king's city, and all the people who want to get sick want to go to the king. If so, how to resist? "
Mencius said: "well, a small party cannot be an enemy of a big party, a small party cannot be an enemy of many people, and the weak cannot be an enemy of the strong." There are nine pieces of land thousands of miles apart in the world, and the land of Qi State is patched together to make up for the deficiency and occupy one of them. What's the difference between conquering the other eight places by one place? (Your Majesty) Why not go back to the basics? If the king now issues decrees and implements benevolent policies, all officials in the world will want to work in the king's court, farmers will want to farm in the king's fields, businessmen will want to do business in the king's market, travelers will want to travel on the king's road, and people from all countries who hate their monarchs will want to tell you. If so, who can stop the king from unifying the world? "
The king said, "Sorry, I can't go in. May the master help me with my ambition and teach me to understand. Although I am not sensitive, please try. "
King Xuan said, "I'm in a trance. I can't walk so far. I hope Mr. Wang will help me realize my ambition and teach me the method clearly. Although I am slow, please let me try. "
He said: "Only a scholar can become a persevering person without ceasing to produce. If people, there is no constant production, because there is no perseverance. Without perseverance, you will do whatever you want. It is a waste of people to be caught committing a crime and then punished. How can a benevolent man not do something for the people when he is in power? Therefore, if a wise monarch controls the people's property, he can support his parents and wife, he can be satisfied with life in happy years, and he can avoid death in fierce years. Then drive away the good ones, and the people will be lenient.
Mencius said: "There is no fixed industry, but there is a stable mind, which only a scholar can do." For ordinary people, without a fixed industry, there will be no stable thinking. If there is no stable and unchanging thought, we will run amok and do bad things. When they commit crimes, they are punished by criminal law, which is like trapping people in a trap. How can a benevolent man be governed like this when he becomes a monarch? Therefore, the people's right of inheritance stipulated by a wise monarch must enable him to support his parents, his wife and children, so that he can eat all the year round in good years and avoid starvation in bad years. In this way, after urging them to do good deeds, the people will be willing to listen.
"Today is also the property of the people. There are not enough adoptive parents and a wife. Happy years have been bitter for a lifetime, and fierce years are inevitable. This is just to save lives, but I'm afraid I won't be able to support it.
"Now, the provisions of the people's industry are not enough to feed their parents and their wives and children. In good years, they suffer all the year round, and in bad years, they will inevitably starve to death. This (makes the people) even afraid of being too late to maintain their lives. How can they have time to pay attention to etiquette and benevolence?
"Wang wanted to do this, but he did the opposite. Five acres of houses, trees are mulberry, and fifty people can wear clothes and silks. Chickens, dolphins and dogs are all domestic animals, so there is no time to waste. Seventy people can eat meat. One hundred acres of land, if you don't hurry, a family of eight can be hungry. I sincerely hope that the godson of the cult will be filial, and the winners will not be on the road. Old people eat meat, and the people are not hungry or cold, but they are not kings. "
"You want to be benevolent, why not return to nature? Mulberry trees are planted in the five-acre homestead (in front of and behind the house), and people aged 50 can put on silk cotton-padded jackets. Domestic animals such as chickens, dogs, pigs, etc., don't miss their reproductive opportunities. People aged 70 can eat meat. One hundred acres of land, not taking up the farming season, a family of eight can not go hungry. Do a good job in school education and explain the truth of filial piety to your brother repeatedly so that the elderly will not carry things on their shoulders. Old people put on silk cotton to eat meat, and ordinary people are not hungry or frozen. This cannot unify the world and will never happen. "
Note ① Qi Xuanwang: During the Warring States Period, the reign of Qi Xuanwang, King of Qi, was from 3 19 to 30 1 year. ② Qi Huan and Jinwen: Qi Huangong, the monarch of Qi in the Spring and Autumn Period, reigned from 685 to 643, and was the first overlord in the Spring and Autumn Period. Jin Wengong, Ji Chonger, the monarch of the State of Jin in the Spring and Autumn Period, reigned for 636-628 years, and was one of the five tyrants in the Spring and Autumn Period. (3) disturbing the bell: an ancient ceremony. After the new clock was cast, the sacrifice was killed and blood was smeared on the gap of the clock. (4) Infant: The appearance of trembling with fear. ⑤ Say: Same as "Yue". ⑥ The above two sentences are from The Book of Songs, Xiaoya's Clever Words. ⑦ The above three sentences are from The Book of Songs. Punishment: the same as "type", demonstration. Widowed wife: the first wife, wife. Jiabang: the fief of the doctor, the fief of the vassal. ⑧ (hé): Why not?