天將降大任於斯人也

When Heaven Is About to Entrust a Person with a Great Mission

故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，曾益其所不能。

- 《孟子》·告子下 

When Heaven is about to entrust a person with a great mission, it first tests his resolve with hardship, exhausts his body with toil, starves him with hunger, leaves him in poverty, and confounds his undertakings. In this way, it stirs his spirit, strengthens his endurance, and enhances his abilities beyond what he thought possible.

- 《Mencius》· To My Son, Book 2

人恒過，然後能改；困於心，衡於慮，而後作；征於色，發於聲，而後喻。則無法家拂士，入出則無敵國外患者，國恒亡。然後知生於憂患而死於安樂也。

- 《孟子》·告子下 

People often err, and only then can they learn to correct themselves. When their hearts are troubled and their minds weighed with care, then they become creative. When their distress is visible in their faces and expressed in their voices, then they come to be understood. Therefore, if a state has no law-abiding scholars or upright officials to admonish it, and if it faces no rival nations to challenge it from without, it will surely perish. Thus we know that adversities and hardships enable one to grow and prosper, while smug and indulgence in pleasure will lead to one's doom.”

- 《Mencius》· To My Son, Book 2, chapter 15

君子莫大乎与人为善。- 《孟子》·公孙丑

The highest virtue of a true gentleman is to assist others in doing good. -- 《Mencius》· “Gongsun Chou”

富贵不能淫，贫贱不能移，威武不能屈，此之谓大丈夫。　　—— 《孟子》·滕文公下

He whom riches cannot corrupt, poverty cannot deflect, and power cannot subdue—this is what is meant by a great man. -- 《Mencius》· "Tengwen Gong, Book 2"

非其道，则一箪食不可受于人； 如其道，则舜受尧之天下，不以为泰。 --《孟子》·滕文公下

If it is not the right way, then even a single bowl of food cannot be accepted from others. If it conforms with the proper way, then that Shun accepted the empire from Yao is not considered excessive. -- 《Mencius》· "Tengwen Gong, Book 2"

志士不忘在沟壑，勇士不忘丧其元。--《孟子》-滕文公下

A man of ideals never forgets that he may end up in a ditch; a man of valor never forgets that he may lose his head. --《Mencius》· "Tengwen Gong, Book 2"

【作者簡介】見本書《民為貴 君為輕》篇。

Introduction to the author: See《People are More Important than Rulers》 by Mencius in this book.