Brit Cheung's Reviews > Mencius

Not quite into confucious though as a icon of the Chinese culture by the government propaganda and though there are many Confucious Institutes in varied countries. It was once deemed as some sort of the obsolescent thoughts to be deprecated in the New Cultural Movement . Even till this day , a word was linked to it with exceedingly passive connotation as “cynicism” （犬儒主义）. Compared to its official background, Mencius is more lovable and accessible and more inspiring.

The following are some excerpt from his thoughts that were still instrutive after millenniums. We were educated to absorb some of this ancient philosopher's views since a juvenile.

1-天将降大任于是人也，必先苦其心志，劳其筋骨，饿其体肤，空乏其身，行拂乱其所为，所以动心忍性，曾益其所不能。
Thus,when heaven is about to confer a great office on any man,it first exercises his mind with suffering, and his sinews and bones with toil . It exposes his body to hunger ,and subjects him to extreme poverty. It confounds his undertakings. By all these methods it stimulates his mind, harden his nature , and supplies his incompetencies.

2-人恒过，然后能改，困于心，衡于虑，而后作，征于色发于声，而后喻。入，则无法家拂士，出，则无敌国外患者，国恒亡。然后知生于忧患，而死于安乐也。
Men for the most part err, and are afterwards able to reform .They are distressed in mind and perplexed in their thoughts,and they arise to vigorous reformation . When things have been evidenced in Men's looks ,and set forth in their words ,then they understand them.

If a prince have not about his court families attached to the laws and worthy counsellors, and if abroard there are not hostile States or other external calamities, his kingdom will generally come to ruin.

From these things we see how life springs from sorrow and calamity, and death from ease and pleasure.

3-不违农时，谷不可胜食也。数罟不入洿池，鱼鳖不可胜食也。斧斤以时入山林，材木不可胜用也。谷与鱼鳖不可胜食，材木不可胜用，是使民养生丧死无憾也。养生丧死无憾，王道之始也。

If the seasons of husbandry be not interfered with,the grain will be more than can be eaten. If close nets are not allowed to enter the pools and ponds ,the fishes and turtles will be more than can be cinsumed. If the axes and bills enter the hills and forests only at the proper time, the wood will be more than can be used.

When the grain and fish and turtles ate more than can be eaten ,and there is more wood than can be used , this enables the people to nourish their living and mourn for their dead,without any feeling against any. This condition, in which the people nourish their living and bury their dead without any feeling against any, is the first step of royal government.

4-为富不仁
He who seeks to be rich will not be benevolent.

5-富贵不能淫，贫贱不能移，威武不能屈，此之谓大丈夫。
To be above the power of riches and honors to make dissipated, of poverty and mean condition to make swerve from principle, and of power and force to make bend:-these characteristics constitute the great man.

6-天时不如地利，地利不如人和。
Opportunities of time vouchsafed by heaven are not equal to advantages of situation afforded by the Earth , and advantages of situation afforded by the Earth are not equal to the union arising from the accord of Men.

7-得道者多助，失道者寡助。寡助之至，亲戚畔之，多助之至，天下顺之。以天下之所顺，攻亲戚之所畔，故君子有不战，战必胜矣。
He who finds the proper course has many to assist him.
He who loses the proper course has few to assis him.
When this,--the being assisted by few , reaches its extreme point, his own relations revolt from the prince.
When the being assisted by many reached its highest point, the whole kingdom become obedient to the prince.

When one to whom the whole kingdom is prepared to be obedient,attacks those from whom their own relations revolt, what must be the result?
Therefore, the true ruler will prefer not to fight; but if he Di fight, he must overcome.

…… ……

Well , this is the last day of the year 2015, and this is the last book review of the year. What a new year will unfold and manifest itself tomorrow?
Who the hell knows…

Just make progress and be Happy:)

乙未十二月三十一（2015.12.31）