三里之城，七里之郭，環而攻之而不勝。
There is a city, with an inner wall of three li in circumference, and an outer wall of seven.
The enemy surround and attack it, but they are not able to take it.
夫環而攻之，必有得天時者矣；然而不勝者，是天時不如地利也。
Now, to surround and attack it, there must have been vouchsafed to them by Heaven the opportunity of time, and in such case their not taking it is because opportunities of time vouchsafed by Heaven are not equal to advantages of situation afforded by the Earth.
城非不高也，池非不深也，兵革非不堅利也，米粟非不多也；委而去之，是地利不如人和也。
There is a city, whose walls are distinguished for their height, and whose moats are distinguished for their depth, where the arms of its defenders, offensive and defensive, are distinguished for their strength and sharpness, and the stores of rice and other grain are very large.
Yet it is obliged to be given up and abandoned.
This is because advantages of situation afforded by the Earth are not equal to the union arising from the accord of Men.
故曰：域民不以封疆之界，固國不以山谿之險，威天下不以兵革之利。
In accordance with these principles it is said, "A people is bounded in, not by the limits of dykes and borders; a State is secured, not by the strengths of mountains and rivers; the kingdom is overawed, not by the sharpness and strength of arms."
得道者多助，失道者寡助。
He who finds the proper course has many to assist him.
He who loses the proper course has few to assist him.
寡助之至，親戚畔之；多助之至，天下順之。
When this - the being assisted by few - reaches its extreme point, his own relations revolt from the prince.
When the being assisted by many reaches its highest point, the whole kingdom becomes obedient to the prince.
以天下之所順，攻親戚之所畔；故君子有不戰，戰必勝矣。」
When one to whom the whole kingdom is prepared to be obedient, attacks those from whom their own relations revolt, what must be the result?
Therefore, the true ruler will prefer not to fight; but if he do fight, he must overcome.'
孟子將朝王，王使人來曰：「寡人如就見者也，有寒疾，不可以風。
As Mencius was about to go to court to see the king, the king sent a person to him with this message: 'I was wishing to come and see you.
But I have got a cold, and may not expose myself to the wind.
朝將視朝，不識可使寡人得見乎？」
In the morning I will hold my court.
I do not know whether you will give me the opportunity of seeing you then.'
對曰：「不幸而有疾，不能造朝。」
Mencius replied, 'Unfortunately, I am unwell, and not able to go to the court.'
明日，出吊於東郭氏，公孫丑曰：「昔者辭以病，今日吊，或者不可乎！」
Next day, he went out to pay a visit of condolence to some one of the Dong Guo family, when Gong Sun Chou said to him, 'Yesterday, you declined going to the court on the ground of being unwell, and today you are going to pay a visit of condolence.
May this not be regarded as improper?'
王使人問疾，醫來。
In the mean time, the king sent a messenger to inquire about his sickness, and also a physician.
孟仲子對曰：「昔者有王命，有采薪之憂，不能造朝。
今病小愈，趨造於朝，我不識能至否乎？」
Meng Zhong replied to them, 'Yesterday, when the king's order came, he was feeling a little unwell, and could not go to the court.
Today he was a little better, and hastened to go to court.
I do not know whether he can have reached it by this time or not.'
使數人要於路，曰：「請必無歸，而造於朝！」
Having said this, he sent several men to look for Mencius on the way, and say to him, 'I beg that, before you return home, you will go to the court.'
不得已而之景丑氏宿焉。
On this, Mencius felt himself compelled to go to Jing Chou's, and there stop the night.
景子曰：「內則父子，外則君臣，人之大倫也。
Mr. Jing said to him, 'In the family, there is the relation of father and son; abroad, there is the relation of prince and minister.
These are the two great relations among men.
父子主恩，君臣主敬。
Between father and son the ruling principle is kindness.
Between prince and minister the ruling principle is respect.
丑見王之敬子也，未見所以敬王也。」
I have seen the respect of the king to you, Sir, but I have not seen in what way you show respect to him.'
曰：「惡！
是何言也！
Mencius replied, 'Oh! what words are these?
齊人無以仁義與王言者，豈以仁義為不美也？
Among the people of Qi there is no one who speaks to the king about benevolence and righteousness.
Are they thus silent because they do not think that benevolence and righteousness are admirable?
其心曰『是何足與言仁義也』
No, but in their hearts they say, "This man is not fit to be spoken with about benevolence and righteousness."
云爾，則不敬莫大乎是。
Thus they manifest a disrespect than which there can be none greater.