Page 76 - 《孟子》（一）中·英对照版

?孟
子

and complain to Your Majesty. And when they are
so bent, who will be able to keep them back?”

The king said, “I am stupid, and not able to
advance to this. I wish you, my Master, to assist my
intentions. Teach me clearly; although I am deficient
in intelligence and vigour, I will essay and try to
carry your instructions into effect.”

Mencius replied, “They are only men of
education, who, without a certain livelihood, are able
to maintain a fixed heart. As to the people, if they
have not a certain livelihood, it follows that they will
not have a fixed heart. And if they have not a fixed
heart, there is nothing which they will not do, in the
way of self-abandonment, of moral deflection, of
depravity, and of wild license. When they thus have
been involved in crime, to follow them up and punish
them; —this is to entrap the people. How can such
a thing as entrapping the people be done under the
rule of a benevolent man? Therefore an intelligent

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