After leaving Qi state, Mencius stayed overnight in Zhou. A man who wished to persuade Mencius to stay on behalf of the king came to visit. He sat down respectfully and began to speak.
But Mencius gave no reply; instead, he leaned on a small table and lay down to rest.
The visitor was displeased and said:
“I fasted and purified myself all night before daring to come speak with you. Yet you lie there and won’t even listen! I dare not presume to see you again.”
Mencius said:
“Please sit! Let me explain:
In ancient times, Duke Mu of Lu could not keep Zi Si (Kong Ji, Confucius’s grandson) at ease unless he assigned attendants to serve him faithfully.
Similarly, the worthy scholars Xie Liu and Shen Xiang could not even secure their own safety unless someone at Duke Mu’s court advocated for them.
Now you claim to be concerned for this ‘elder,’ yet you have done nothing to secure for me the kind of respectful treatment Zi Si received.
So tell me: is it you who has severed ties with the elder – or the elder who has severed ties with you?”
孟子去齊，宿於晝。
有欲為王留行者，坐而言。不應，隱几而臥。客不悅曰：「弟子齊宿而後敢言，夫子臥而不聽，請勿復敢見矣。」
曰：「坐！我明語子。昔者魯繆公無人乎子思之側，則不能安子思；泄柳、申詳，無人乎繆公之側，則不能安其身。子為長者慮，而不及子思，子絕長者乎？長者絕子乎？」
Note
This passage from Mencius: Gongsun Chou II uses a brief encounter to articulate a profound Confucian principle: true respect for the virtuous requires institutional commitment, not mere words.
“Securing the Worthy” demands concrete action
Mencius argues that retaining moral talent isn’t about emotional appeals but about creating conditions of genuine respect – like Duke Mu of Lu assigning staff to support Zi Si. Without such structural backing, “retention” is empty theater.
The scholar’s departure reflects the failure of the ruler
Mencius left Qi not due to personal grievance but because his vision of benevolent governance was ignored. Any attempt to keep him without embracing his principles misunderstands the very purpose of his presence.
Respect lies in recognizing moral authority, Not age
The visitor addressed Mencius as a “venerable elder,” yet offered no political support. Mencius rebukes him: true veneration means advocating for the scholar’s ideas at court – not offering polite gestures devoid of substance.
Moral agency rests with the scholar
By asking, “Who severed ties first?” Mencius asserts that the ethical burden lies with those in power. If they fail to uphold the Dao, the scholar’s departure is not abandonment – it is principled withdrawal.
In essence, Mencius declares: To truly retain a sage, one must first embrace his teachings – not just his presence.
Mencius left Qi twice
The First Departure (during the reign of King Wei of Qi)
Mencius advocated that “benevolent governance is invincible,” but King Wei of Qi prioritized Legalist strategies for strengthening the military (such as employing Sun Bin) and showed little interest in Confucian thought. Feeling disheartened and unrecognized, Mencius even refused a generous gift of one hundred gold pieces from the king and eventually departed.
The Second Departure (during the reign of King Xuan of Qi)
Although treated with respect, Mencius found that King Xuan regarded Confucian teachings as “empty talk” while actively pursuing expansionist policies. Key conflicts included:
- The Yan State Incident: After Qi troops captured Yan, they committed killings and plunder. Mencius advised King Xuan to help them install a new ruler and then withdraw the army to win the people’s support, but the king, coveting Yan’s territory, refused. The result was a rebellion in Yan, a coalition of states attacking Qi, and a devastating defeat for Qi. This left Mencius deeply disillusioned.
- A Fundamental Clash of Ideals: King Xuan aimed for “wealth and military power,” while Mencius advocated “protecting the people to achieve true kingship.” Though the king showed superficial respect, he never genuinely implemented benevolent governance.
The final struggle before leaving
Upon reaching the border town of Zhou, Mencius intentionally stayed for three days, hoping King Xuan would recall him. Although the king sent an envoy to persuade him to stay, he never demonstrated sincere commitment. After expressing his grievances clearly, Mencius ultimately left Qi for good.
Historical Context: The illusion of patronage in the Warring States
Rulers often honored famous scholars with titles and stipends while ignoring their counsel. Mencius exposes this hypocrisy: honoring without heeding is a form of disrespect.
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