"Wealth and honor cannot pervert, poverty and lowliness cannot change" means: wealth and honor cannot confuse his thoughts, and poverty and lowliness cannot shake his integrity.

Source: Pre-Qin Dynasty Mencius' "Wealth and Honor Cannot Be Promiscuous"

Original text:

Jing Chun said: "Aren't Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi being dishonest men? They were angry. But the princes are afraid, and the world is in ruins."

Mencius said: "How can I be a man? Is it true that a son has not learned etiquette? Then, he went to the door of the house and said: "You must respect the girl's house and do not disobey the master!" It is the way of a concubine to live in the world and establish the right position in the world. , follow the path of the world. If you have a will, follow it by the people; if you don't have a will, you can't be immoral, you can't be poor, you can't be subdued by force. This is called a man."

Translation:

Jing Chun said: "Aren't Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi really men with great ambition, achievements, and integrity? When they get angry, even the princes are afraid. If they live in peace, the world will be peaceful."

Mencius said: "How can this be considered a man with ambition and achievements? Have you not learned etiquette? When a man performs the crowning ceremony, his father gives him instructions; when a woman gets married, her mother gives her instructions and sends her to the door. , warned her: "When you arrive at your husband's house, you must be respectful and cautious, and do not disobey your husband!" The principle of being a concubine is to live in the most generous way in the world. The home of humanity - benevolence - stands in the most correct position in the world - propriety, and walks on the most correct path in the world - righteousness. When you can realize your ideals, you will walk on this right path with the people; when you cannot realize your ideals, you will walk alone. On this righteous path, wealth cannot confuse his mind, poverty cannot shake his integrity, and power cannot bend his will. This is called a man of integrity and achievement."

Note:

Jingchun: A contemporary of Mencius and a strategist.

Gongsun Yan: A native of Wei during the Warring States Period, a political strategist. He once served as prime minister in the state of Qin, and also wore the seals of the five kingdoms.

Zhang Yi: A native of the Wei state during the Warring States Period, he was a political strategist. He was the prime minister during the reign of King Hui of Qin, and lobbied the six kingdoms to unite and obey the Qin state.

Sincerity: True, indeed.

A real man: refers to a man with great ambition, achievements and integrity.

Fear: fear.

Anju: quiet.

Quiet: Same as "Xi", subside, which means that the flames of war are extinguished and the world is at peace.

Yes: this, this.

Yan: Why, where?

Zi: You.

Unlearned: Not learned.

The "zhi" in "husband's crown" and "woman's marriage" below both cancel the independence of the sentence between subject and predicate, so they are not translated.

Husband's Crown: When a man holds a crowning ceremony. Crown: In ancient times, when men reached adulthood, they would have a crowning ceremony, which was called a crown. The ancients were crowned at the age of twenty.

Father orders him: his father gives instruction; his father enlightens him. Life: Teaching and instruction.

Mother’s instructions: Mother gives instructions.

Marry: get married.

Go: go, arrive.

Jie: Same as "commandment", warning.

Female (rǔ): Same as "ru", you.

Be respectful and refrain; be: certain. Respect: Respectfully. Precept: pay attention, be careful, be cautious.

Violate: violate.

Master: In the old days, I called myself my husband.

With: handle.

Shun: Submissive.

For: as.

Zheng: Righteous principles and basic principles.

Tao: Method.

The first "ju" in the world: residence. The second "residence" is residence.

Guangju, Zhengshi, Daodao: Zhu Xi’s annotation is: Guangju means benevolence; Zhengshi means etiquette; Daoda means righteousness.

Stand: Stand, stand.

Zheng: Upright.

The avenue: the bright avenue.

Get: realize.

Ambition: ambition.

Followed by:

Go your own way: go your own way alone. Du: Alone. Xing: Here is the meaning of persistence; perseverance. Tao: Principle, code of conduct.

Yin: confusion, confusion. Usage.

Shift: change, shake. Usage.

Qu: surrender. Usage.

Appreciation:

The content of "Wealth and Honor Cannot Be Promiscuous" is Mencius' refutation of Jingchun's erroneous remarks about real men. Let’s first look at the “target” of the article’s criticism, namely Jing Chun’s views.

Jing Chun believed that Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi were true men. For this reason, he asked Mencius with a rhetorical question: "Are Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi not honest men?" Aren't Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi really true men? Are they real men? The implication is that Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi are real men. The basis for Jingchun's point of view is that Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi can control the princes, "when they are angry, the princes will be afraid, and when they live in peace, the world will be extinguished." When they get angry, the princes will be afraid, but when they calm down, the world will be peaceful. They are majestic and powerful, and can influence the current situation.

Regarding Jingchun’s “arguments” and “arguments”, Mencius first breaks down and then establishes, first refutes Jingchun’s wrong views, and then explains what a real man is.

First of all, Mencius used a tit-for-tat rhetorical question: "How can we be called a man?" How can this be called a man? He directly rejected Jingchun's views.

Secondly, Mencius conducted an analysis and answered why "Gongsun Yan, Zhang Yi and others" cannot be called men.

Mencius's statement is implicit and humorous. He only uses the word "property" to explain the mother's instructions when a woman gets married. From this, it can be concluded that "the one who takes obedience as the right one is the way of a concubine." It is worth us here It should be noted that the ancients believed that the way of a wife is like the way of a minister. Of course, ministers should be obedient to their emperor, but the principle of obedience is based on justice. If the emperor behaves unjustly, ministers should advise him. The same is true for a wife towards her husband. Of course the wife should obey her husband, but if her husband has made a mistake, the wife should also persuade him to make amends. It should be "harmony but difference". Only eunuchs, wives and maids do not care about right and wrong, and follow the principle of blind obedience. In fact, they have no principles whatsoever. "The way of concubines" cannot be generally understood as the way of women, but is actually the "way of little wives".

Mencius’s sarcasm was profound and sharp, and it can be said that he deeply hated Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi. Regrettably, although Mencius hated this kind of concubine way of "taking obedience as the right thing", for more than two thousand years, such "concubines" have continued to appear in endlessly. Today, monogamy is protected by law, and it is difficult for "concubines" to exist. However, the "concubine theory" may not disappear, and it may even be still popular.

Mencius’s method is to put forward the true way of a man tit for tat. This is his famous saying that has been passed down through the ages: "Wealth cannot be lustful, poverty cannot be moved, power cannot be surrendered." How to do it? Then we have to "live in the broadest place in the world, establish the right position in the world, and walk the great road of the world." It is better to return to the benevolence, justice, etiquette and wisdom that Confucianism has always advocated. After doing this, we should adopt the attitude of "following the people's will when we get it, and going our own way if we don't have it", which is what Confucius said: "Use it and do it, abandon it and hide it," ("The Analects of Confucius") or Mencius It is said in other places that "if you are poor, you can be good for yourself; if you are rich, you can help the world." ("Dedicate yourself to your heart") Then you can become a truly upright man.

Mencius's paragraph about "a man" The famous quotes shine with the power of thought and personality. They have inspired many people with lofty ideals in history and have become their motto to not fear violence and uphold justice.

Classical Chinese knowledge:

1. Multiple meanings of a word

1. Sincerity

Aren't Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi not sincere and virtuous? (True, true)

The emperor felt his sincerity and ordered the two sons of the E family to praise him for carrying two mountains (sincerity) - "Liezi" "The Foolish Old Man Moved the Mountains" in "Tang Wen"

Jincheng claims to be the son of Fusu and Xiang Yan in our deceit (really true, but hypothetical) - Han Dynasty Sima Qian's "Chen She Family"

2． Yan

How can one be a man? (How, where)

The seasons of winter and summer change, and the beginning is reversed Yan (modal particle) - "Liezi·Tang Wen" in " "The Foolish Old Man Moved Mountains"

3. Crown

The husband's crown is also the crown ordered by the father (noun used as a verb to perform the crowning ceremony)

The one with the crown and many beards in the middle is Dongpo (wearing a hat, noun used as a verb) ——Ming Dynasty Wei Xuezhen's "The Story of the Nuclear Boat"

Being crowned, I admire the way of the sages. (In ancient times, when a man reached adulthood, a crowning ceremony was held, which was called a crown.) - Ming Dynasty and Song Lian's "Preface to Ma Sheng in Dongyang"

4. Fate

The husband's crown is also the father's order (discipline)

The two sons of Kua'e are ordered to carry two mountains. (Assignment; issue) - "The Foolish Old Man Moves the Mountain" in "Liezi·Tangwen"

Be ordered to be in danger. (Command, decree) - Zhuge Liang's "Departure of the Master"

5. Precepts

The precepts say: 'When you go to your daughter's house, you must respect her and take precautions (the first one is "warning" and the second one is "caution")

6. Residence

Reside in the world (the first is "residence", the second is "residence")

Foyin is on the right, and Lu Zhi is on the left. (To be at, to be in) - Ming Dynasty Wei Xuezhen's "He Zhou Ji"

After staying for five days, Marquis Huan suffered from body pain (used in front of words expressing time to express the passing time; to stay, to experience. In Translated as "passed" in the text) - "Bian Que Meets Duke Huan of Cai" in "Han Feizi·Yu Lao"

7. Flex

Formidable and unable to bend (using the method of mobilization, yielding)

The fingers cannot be bent or extended (bent) - Ming Song Lian's "Preface to Ma Sheng in Dongyang"

8.

"The husband's crown" and "the woman's marriage" (the "Zhi" in them both cancel the independence of the sentence between the subject and the predicate and are not translated.)

Mother Mingzhi (pronoun, for a married woman)

Go to the door of sending (verb, go, to)

Living in the world (particle, of.)

What's so shameful? (Structural auxiliary word, sign of preposition of object) ——Liu Yuxi of the Tang Dynasty, "Inscription on a Humble Room"

For a long time, the eyes seem to be in silence, and the mind is very idle. (A particle plays the role of adjusting syllables and is not translated.) ——Pu Songling's "Wolf" of the Qing Dynasty

9. De

How can De be a man? De: able, able.

Dezhide: Realization.

2. Tongjiazi

When you go to the girl’s house, you must respect her and be careful

Nv (rǔ): Tong “Ru”, you

3. Inflection of parts of speech

①Verb used as noun

Reside in the world

Original meaning: to live. The meaning in the text is residence and residence.

② How to use verbs

A. Wealth cannot be lascivious

Original meaning: confusion, confusion. Meaning: to confuse...

B. Poverty and lowliness cannot be moved

Original meaning: change, shake, the meaning of the text: make... change (shake).

Mighty and unyielding

Original meaning: surrender. Meaning in the text: To make... yield.

③Mingzuowu

The husband’s crown is also ordered by his father;

Original meaning: In ancient times, when men reached adulthood, a crowning ceremony was held, which was called a crown. The ancients were crowned at the age of twenty. As a verb in the article, it means to perform a crown ceremony

About the author:?

Mencius (about 372 BC - 289 BC), named Ke, courtesy name Ziyu, Zou Guo (now southeast of Zoucheng, Shandong). A philosopher, thinker, and educator during the Warring States Period, he was a representative figure of the Confucian school after Confucius and before Xunzi. Together with Confucius, he was called "Confucius and Mencius."

Mencius preached "benevolent government" and was the first to put forward the idea of ??"valuing the people and respecting the monarch". He was listed by Han Yu as a pre-Qin Confucian figure who inherited Confucius' "tradition", and was posthumously named "Lesser Sage" by the Yuan Dynasty.

Mencius’s speeches and works are collected in the book "Mencius". Among them, "Fish I Want", "Many Helps for the Right, Little Help for the Unworthy", "What a Few People Do to the Country" and "Born in Worry, Die in Peace" and other chapters have been compiled into Chinese textbooks for primary and secondary schools.