《孟子》三则

     第一则：            孟子曰：“天时不如地利，地利不如人和。三里之城，七里之郭[1]，环而攻之而不胜。夫环而攻之，必有得天时者矣；然而不胜者，是天时不如地利也。城非不高也，池非不深也，兵革非不坚利也[2]，米粟非不多也；委而去之，是地利不如人和也。故曰：域民不以封疆之界，固国不以山谿之险，威天下不以兵革之利。得道者多助，失道者寡助。寡助之至，亲戚畔[3]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。”(《公孙丑下》)

 Mencius said, "Favorable weather is less important than advantageous terrain, and advantageous terrain is less important than unity among the people. For example, the inner city of a small city is not larger than three square li, and its outer city is not larger than seven square li. But an enemy cannot conquer it even after a long siege. During such a long time there must be favorable weather, but the enemy cannot break into it because favorable weather is less important than advantageous terrain. When city walls are high, ditches deep, weapons superior and grain abundant, but the defenders abandon the city and flee under attack by the enemy, it is because advantageous terrain is less important than unity among the people. So, it is said that national border alone can not stop people from fleeing, precipitous terrain alone can not insure the security of the state, and force alone can not subjugate the world. Practicing a policy of benevolence wins support from the people; otherwise the support of the people will be lost. If one loses the support of the people, even one's relatives will turn against one; if one wins the support of the people, all the people in the world will come to pledge allegiance. When a gentleman who has the support of the people attacks one who is opposed by the masses and deserted by his followers, he may win without fighting, and is sure to win if he does fight."(Gongsun Chou Xia)

【注释】

[1]郭：外城。

[2]池：城外的护城河。兵：兵器。革：甲胄。

[3]畔：同“叛”。

 Explanations

郭：outer city Pool：city moat of the outer city.  兵：weapons  革：armor 畔：betray

 第二则  ：孟子曰：“桀纣[1]之失天下也，失其民也；失其民者，失其心也。得天下有道：得其民，斯得天下矣；得其民有道：得其心，斯得民矣；得其心有道：所欲与之聚之[2]，所恶勿施尔也[3]。”(《离娄上》)

 Mencius said,“The Emperors Jie and Zhou who lost his rule lost his people; he who lost his people lost the folk mind. There is a way to win his country, that is, to win people’s heart and it’s natural to rule the country. There is a way to win people’s heart, that is, to understand people’s mind and it’s natural to rule his people. There is a way to understand people’s mind, that is, to gather what his people want and not to give what his people hate.”(Li Lou shang)

【注释】

[1]桀:夏代暴君。纣：商代暴君。

[2]所欲与之聚之:人民所希望的，替他们聚集

起来。

[3]恶（wù）：讨厌，憎恨。施：加。尔也：如此罢

了。

 Explanations

桀: the tyrant of dynasty Xia.   纣: the tyrant of dynasty Shang.

所欲与之聚之: to give what the people wish

hate: abhor.      施：impose         尔也：thus

    第三则：富贵不能淫， 贫贱不能移，威武不能屈， 此之谓大丈夫。(《滕文公下》)

It is a true great man whom no money and rank can confuse, no poverty and hardship can shake, and no power and force can suffocate.（Teng Wen Gong xia）