n your own family, so
that those in the families of others shall be similarly treated; treat
with the kindness due to youth the young in your own family, so that
those in the families of others shall be similarly treated--do this
and the kingdom may be made to go round in your palm. It is said in
the 'Book of Poetry,'

'His example acted on his wife,
Extended to his brethren,
And was felt by all the clans and States;'

telling us how King Wan simply took this kindly heart, and exercised it
towards those parties. Therefore the carrying out of the feeling of
kindness by a ruler will suffice for the love and protection of all
within the four seas; and if he do not carry it out, he will not be able
to protect his wife and children. The way in which the ancients came
greatly to surpass other men was no other than this, that they carried
out well what they did, so as to affect others. Now your kindness is
sufficient to reach to animals, and yet no benefits are extended from it
to the people. How is this? Is an exception to be made here?

"By weighing we know what things are light, and what heavy. By
measuring we know what things are long, and what short. All things are
so dealt with, and the mind requires specially to be so. I beg your
Majesty to measure it.

"Your Majesty collects your equipments of war, endangers your soldiers
and officers and excites the resentment of the various princes--do
these things cause you pleasure in your mind?"

The king said, "No. How should I derive pleasure from these things? My
object in them is to seek for what I greatly desire."

Mencius said, "May I hear from you what it is that your Majesty
greatly desires?"

The king laughed, and did not speak. Mencius resumed, "Are you led to
desire it because you have not enough of rice and sweet food for your
mouth? or because you have not enough of light and warm clothing for
your body? or because you have not enough of beautifully colored
objects to satisfy your eyes? or because there are not voices and
sounds enough to fill your ears? or because you have not enough of
attendants and favorites to stand before you and receive your orders?
Your Majesty's various officers are sufficient to supply you with all
these things. How can your Majesty have such a desire on account of
them?" "No," said the king, "my desire is not on account of them."
Mencius observed, "Then what your Majesty greatly desires can be
known. You desire to enla