AnonyMencius Boshu :verywise: on Nostr: A student came to the Master and asked, “I have heard it said the Mandate of Heaven ...
A student came to the Master and asked, “I have heard it said the Mandate of Heaven (天命) is no more than the strong man who can keep the State together by the sword. Is it true? Is Han Fei right?”
The Master replied: “Heaven is not won by violence or by the casuistry of court officials. The Son of Heaven (天子) claims the throne when, as Mengzi (孟子) says, ‘ he gains the confidence of the multitudinous people.’ An unjust duke may rule by momentum of the prior State or the justice of his ancestors, but rebellion and the will of the people will place a proper authority in due time when one who loves the people and has the courage to fight for it arises.”
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The Master replied: “Heaven is not won by violence or by the casuistry of court officials. The Son of Heaven (天子) claims the throne when, as Mengzi (孟子) says, ‘ he gains the confidence of the multitudinous people.’ An unjust duke may rule by momentum of the prior State or the justice of his ancestors, but rebellion and the will of the people will place a proper authority in due time when one who loves the people and has the courage to fight for it arises.”
note1wflu852zza3ykuvayskfc4qjujwy5tx07ysczaemq0htkas2z4xqk0ffxr