CHAPTER VI

Mencius said, ＇The administration of government is not difficult;— it lies in not offending the great families.

宜乎人之我亲矣, 而顾有不亲焉, 则必反其仁, 恐我之爱人有未至也, 云云, ＇He who administers government embodies benevolence to love men, and it is to beexpected men will love him. Should he find however that they do not, he must turn in and examine his benevolence, lest it should be imperfect＇, &c.

2. 不得=不得其所欲, ＇does not get what he wishes＇.皆,—＇all＇, with reference to the general form of the preceding clause. 3. See Bk. II. Pt. I. iv. 6.

CHAPTER5. PERSONAL CHARACTER IS NECESSARY TO ALL GOOD INFLUENCE.

Compare ＇The Superior Learning＇, text of Confucius, par 4. The common saying repeated by all probably means:—the kingdom is made up of its component States, and of their component families;—i.e. the families of the great officers. But Mencius takes its meaning more generally, and carries it out a step farther.

CHAPTER6. THE IMPORTANCE TO A RULER OF SECURING THE ESTEEM AND SUBMISSION OF THE GREAT HOUSES.

The ＇not offending＇ is to be taken in a moral sense;—the ruler＇s doing nothing but what will command the admiring approbation of the old and great families in the State. In illustration of the sentiment, a story is related from Liû Hsiang of the duke Hwan of Ch＇î. Lighting, one day in hunting, on an old man of eightythree,

He whom the great families affect, will be affected by the whole State; and he whom any one State affects,will be affected by the whole kingdom. When this is the case, such an one＇s virtue and teachings will spread over all within the four seas like the rush of water.＇