5月7日

《孟子》選 ─ 告子篇
戰國 孟子 ( 372~289 B.C.E. )

天將降大任於斯人也，
必先苦其心志，勞其筋骨，
餓其體膚，空乏其身，
行拂亂其所為，所以動心忍性，
增益其所不能。

魚，我所欲也，熊掌亦我所欲也；
二者不可得兼，舍魚而取熊掌者也。
生亦我所欲也，義亦我所欲也；
二者不可得兼，舍生而取義者也。

──選自《孟子》

May 7

Selections by Mencius - Gaozi
Mencius (372 BCE - 289 BCE, Warring States Period)
English translation: James Legge

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, hardens his nature, and supplies
his incompetencies.
I like fish, and I also like bear's paws. If I cannot
have the two together, I will let the fish go, and
take the bear's paws. So, I like life, and I also like
righteousness. If I cannot keep the two together, I will
let life go, and choose righteousness.

── from Mengzi (Mencius)