Page 70 - 《孟子》（三）中·英对照版

?孟
子

government was so different; that Qi was able, as a
man of talents and virtue, reverently to pursue the
same course as Yu; that Yi assisted Yu only for a few
years, and had not long conferred benefits on the
people; that the periods of service of the three were
so different; and that the sons were one superior
and the other superior: —all this was from Heaven,
and what could not be brought about by man. That
which is done without man’s doing is from Heaven.
That which happens withont man’s causing is from
the ordinance of Heaven. In the case of a private
individual obtaining the throne, there must be in him
virtue equal to that of Shun or Yu; and moreover
there must be the presenting of him to Heaven by
the preceding sovereign. It was on this account
that Confucius did not obtain the throne. When
the kingdom is possessed by natural succession,
the sovereign who is displaced by Heaven must be
like Jie or Zhou. It was on this account that Yi, Yi

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