King Xuan of Qi asked,
“Is there a proper way of developing good relations with the neighboring states?”
Mencius answered,
“Yes, there is. Only a benevolent ruler can render service to a state smaller than his own. This accounts for the service of King Tang to the State of Ge, and that of King Wen to the Kun tribes. Only a wise ruler can render service to a state bigger than his own. This accounts for the service of King Tai (the grandfather of King Wen of Zhou) to the Xunyu tribes and that of king Goujian to the State of Wu. He who renders service to a state smaller than his own is a ruler who delights in Heaven’s mandate. He who renders service to a state bigger than his own is a ruler who stands in awe of Heaven’s mandate. He who delights in Heaven’s mandate will be able to stabilize the world, while he who stands in awe of Heaven’s mandate will be able to stabilize his own state. The Book of Poetry says:
‘I stand in awe of Heaven’s mandate,
And so can stabilize the Empire.’”
“What a great saying! But I have a weakness- I am fond of valor.”
“I beg you not to like only small valor (petty courage). If a man brandishes his sword, looks fierce, and says, ‘How dare he oppose me!’ – This is the valor of a common man, who can fight only a single adversary. I beg you to make your valor greater (great courage). The Book of Poetry says:
‘The king’s wrath blazed forth;
He marshaled his hosts.
He checked the invasion of Ju,
Secured the blessings of Zhou,
In answer to the hope of all under heaven.’This was the valor of King Wen. In one outburst of anger he brought peace to the people of the world.
The Book of History (The Book of Documents) says,
‘Heaven sent down the people,
And appointed rulers and teachers for them –
To assist Heaven,
And to bless all within the four seas.
Whether innocent or guilty, they would judge;
Who in the realm dares disobey Heaven’s will?’But there was a tyrant who bullied people everywhere, and King Wu saw it as a personal affront. This was the valor of King Wu, who, too, brought peace to the people of the world in one outburst of anger. If Your Majesty too would rouse your anger to bring peace to the people of the world, the people are only afraid that you do not like valor.”
齊宣王問曰：「交鄰國有道乎？」
孟子對曰：「有。惟仁者為能以大事小，是故湯事葛，文王事昆夷；惟智者為能以小事大，故大王事獯鬻，句踐事吳。以大事小者，樂天者也；以小事大者，畏天者也。樂天者保天下，畏天者保其國。《詩》云：『畏天之威，于時保之。』」
王曰：「大哉言矣！寡人有疾，寡人好勇。」
對曰：「王請無好小勇。夫撫劍疾視曰，『彼惡敢當我哉』！此匹夫之勇，敵一人者也。王請大之！《詩》云：『王赫斯怒，爰整其旅，以遏徂莒，以篤周祜，以對于天下。』此文王之勇也。文王一怒而安天下之民。《書》曰：『天降下民，作之君，作之師。惟曰其助上帝，寵之四方。有罪無罪，惟我在，天下曷敢有越厥志？』一人衡行於天下，武王恥之。此武王之勇也。而武王亦一怒而安天下之民。今王亦一怒而安天下之民，民惟恐王之不好勇也。」
Note
In the bustling capital of Linzi during the Warring States era, King Xuan of Qi- proud of his armies and martial spirit – once summoned the philosopher Mencius with the question on diplomacy as mentioned above.
This dialogue, recorded in Mencius: King Hui of Liang II, appears to discuss foreign policy – but its heart is a moral revolution. For Mencius, all power must serve the people. Great states must not bully; small states must not recklessly provoke; rulers must not indulge personal valor (petty courage). Only when courage (great courage) is rooted in compassion does it become truly kingly.
Centuries later, Zhuge Liang would advise Liu Shan in his Northern Expedition Memorial:
“Draw near to the virtuous, distance yourself from petty men – this is why the Former Han prospered.”
The spirit was the same: governance rests not on might, but on moral clarity and popular welfare.
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