Jin Xin II · Passage 34 / 38 · 孟子 7B.34

Mencius 7B.34: when advising the great, do not

Mencius says one who counsels the great must first look past their pomp, because grandeur works by borrowing our scale before any words are spoken.

孟子曰：「說大人，則藐之，勿視其巍巍然。堂高數仞，榱題數尺，我得志弗為也。食前方丈，侍妾數百人，我得志弗為也。般樂飲酒，驅騁田獵，後車千乘，我得志弗為也。在彼者，皆我所不為也；在我者，皆古之制也，吾何畏彼哉？」

mèng zǐ yuē：「shuō dà rén， zé miǎo zhī， wù shì qí wēi wēi rán。 táng gāo shù rèn， cuī tí shù chǐ， wǒ dé zhì fú wéi yě。 shí qián fāng zhàng， shì qiè shù bǎi rén， wǒ dé zhì fú wéi yě。 bān lè yǐn jiǔ， qū chěng tián liè， hòu jū qiān chéng， wǒ dé zhì fú wéi yě。 zài bǐ zhě， jiē wǒ suǒ bù wéi yě； zài wǒ zhě， jiē gǔ zhī zhì yě， wú hé wèi bǐ zāi？」

Mencius said, 'Those who give counsel to the great should despise them, and not look at their pomp and display. Halls several times eight cubits high, with beams projecting several cubits; these, if my wishes were to be realized, I would not have. Food spread before me over ten cubits square, and attendants and concubines to the amount of hundreds; these, though my wishes were realized, I would not have. Pleasure and wine, and the dash of hunting, with thousands of chariots following after me; these, though my wishes were realized, I would not have. What they esteem are what I would have nothing to do with; what I esteem are the rules of the ancients. Why should I stand in awe of them?'