It means: live in the widest house in the world, stand in the most correct position in the world and walk on the widest road in the world.

Source: Mencius Teng Wengong.

Original text:

Jingchun said, "Aren't Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi loyal men? Anger is the fear of the princes, and peace is the destruction of the world. "

Mencius said, "A gentleman is a gentleman. Haven't you learned manners? The husband's crown is also the father's life; When the woman got married, she was ordered by her mother to deliver it to her door, saying,' When you go to your daughter's house, you must respect it and not disobey your master!' He who takes obedience as the right path is also a concubine. Live in a vast place in the world, stand in the right position in the world and be the best self in the world. Success, with the people; Go your own way when you are frustrated. Wealth can't be lewd, poverty can't be moved, and power can't be bent. This is called a gentleman. "

Translation:

Jing Chun said, "Aren't Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi really people with great ambitions, achievements and integrity? When they were angry, the princes were afraid. When they are quiet, the world will be peaceful. "

Mencius said: "How can this be regarded as a person with ambition and integrity?" Haven't you learned manners? When a man is crowned, his father gives discipline; When the woman got married, her mother gave her instructions, sent her to the door, and warned her: "When you arrive at your husband's house, you must be respectful and be careful not to go against your husband's wishes!" Obedience is the rule, this is the way of women.

A gentleman should live in the widest house in the world-benevolence, stand in the most correct position in the world-courtesy, and take the most correct road in the world-righteousness. When you can realize your ambition, take the right path with the people; When you can't realize your ambition, you go your own way alone. Wealth cannot confuse his thoughts, poverty cannot shake his integrity, and power cannot bend his will. Such a person can be called a gentleman. "?

works appreciation

Jingchun thinks that Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi can control the vassals and provoke wars between countries. "When the princes are angry, they fear, and the world dies." This is a great man.

Mencius believed that Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yizhi climbed up by shaking their lips and obeying the wishes of the governors, and there was no principle of benevolence, righteousness and morality. Therefore, they are just villains and women, and they are pursuing the "way of concubinage". How can they be brave people?

Mencius only used "courtesy" to explain a woman's mother's instructions when she got married, and thus concluded that "those who take obedience as the right path are also concubines." What deserves our attention here is that the ancients thought that a wife's way was like a minister's way. Of course, I should obey you, but the principle of obedience is justice. If you are unfair, I will protest.

The same is true of a wife to her husband. Of course, a wife should obey her husband. However, if the husband has, he should persuade her to correct it. It should be "harmony but difference". Mencius believes that this "concubine's way" cannot be generally understood as a woman's way, but is actually a "little wife's way", and only Confucianism's benevolence and courtesy is the "gentleman's way".

Mencius' satire was profound and sharp, and he hated Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi. However, is Mencius' sarcasm really correct? The idea of strategists is to deal with other countries, promote the unification of the world and realize the ideal and ambition of "one country under the world" by combining and dividing the relationship between princes (diplomatic means). They are not unprincipled concubines, but outstanding ancient diplomats. Mencius blindly interpreted it as "the way of concubinage." From this perspective, Mencius' statement is not up to standard.

Mencius' method is to put forward the real way of being a man in a tit-for-tat manner. This is his famous saying, which has been passed down through the ages: "Wealth cannot be lewd, poverty cannot be moved, and power cannot be bent." How? Then you have to "live in the world, stand in the right position in the world and be the best in the world." Or go back to the benevolence, righteousness, propriety and wisdom that Confucianism has always advocated.

After doing this, we will adopt the attitude of "obeying the people's will, not doing what I want", that is, Confucius said "doing what he uses, hiding what he abandons" (The Analects of Confucius) or Mencius said in another place that "if you are poor, you will be immune to it, and if you are up to it, you will help the world." ("wholeheartedly" then you can become a real gentleman. )

Although Mencius' famous saying about "gentleman" is inappropriate in criticizing strategists, the famous saying that "wealth can't be lewd, power can't be bent" still shines brightly, inspiring many people with lofty ideals in history and becoming their motto of upholding justice without fear of violence.