Meaning: What is the difference between unwillingness to do and inability to do something? From Mencius's "The Matter of Qi Huan and Jin Wen", the original text is excerpted as follows:

It said: "Why are the shapes of those who do not do anything different from those who cannot do it?"

It says: "Taking hold of Mount Tai To cross the North Sea, he said: "I can't do it." Mountains are like those that extend beyond the North Sea; those who are not kings are like broken branches.” How are the performances different? "(Mencius) said: "(Use your arms) to hold Mount Tai across the North Sea and tell others: 'I can't do it.' This is indeed impossible. The elder massages the limbs and tells others: "I can't do it." This is because he refuses to do it, not because he can't do it. The reason why the king cannot unite the world is not something like carrying Mount Tai across the North Sea (with his arms). ; The king cannot unify the world, it is a matter of massaging the limbs of the elderly.

Extended information:

Main content

This article uses Mencius to lobby King Xuan of Qi. The process of giving up tyranny and implementing kingly principles more systematically elaborates on Mencius's views on benevolent government.

This article records Mencius's lobbying for King Xuan to implement benevolent government. If you carry forward this kindness in your heart, extend yourself to others, and be kind to the people, it will not be difficult to protect the people and become king. Through the dialogue between Mencius and King Xuan of Qi, the article expresses Mencius' kingly thought of "protecting the people and becoming king" and his political ideas of enriching and educating the people. It also shows Mencius' eloquent character and superb argumentation skills.

His idea is to first give the people a certain amount of industry so that they can support their families and live and work in peace and contentment, and then guide them with "propriety and justice". People, strengthen ethics and moral education so that the ideal of kingship can be realized.