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Mohism -> Mozi -> Book 12 -> Gong Meng -> 1

公孟子墨子Gong Mengzi said to Mozi:
君子 "The gentleman should fold his hands on the breast in waiting.
He will speak when consulted
he will not speak when not consulted.
He is like a bell when struck it sounds, when not struck it does not sound.
墨子:「Mozi said: This idea covers three phases of which you know but one; so you do not understand what you are talking about.
In the case of the ruler's committing violence in the state,
to go and warn him
will be called insolence,
and to offer warning through those around him
will be called meddling with counsel.
君子This is where the gentleman hesitates (to speak).
Now, if the ruler, in his administration,
meets with some difficulty in the state
resembling a machine about to shoot,...
君子 the gentleman must give warning.
So the benefit to the ruler...
In such cases
although he is not asked he should give counsel.
Again, if the lord should launch out on some unrighteous, extraordinary enterprise;
and if in possession of clever military schemes,
he should attack innocent states
with a view to extending his territory,
collecting taxes and gathering wealth;
and if in taking such a course he meet with humiliation,
as it is beneficial neither to the victor nor to the vanquished
-- and hence harmful to both
- in such a case
the gentleman must respond with counsel though he is not asked.
Moreover, according to what you have said,
君子 the gentleman is to fold his hands on his breast and wait.
He will speak when consulted;
he will not speak when not consulted.
He is like a bell;
when struck it sounds,
。』 when not struck it does not sound.
Now, none had asked you
and yet you spoke.
Is this what you call sounding without being struck?
君子Is this what you call ungentlemanly?


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