The king asked, “How may the difference between him who does not do a thing and him who is not able to do it be graphically set forth?” Mencius replied, “In such a thing as taking the T’ae mountain under your arm, and leaping with it over the North Sea, if you say to people, ’I am not able to do it,’ that is a real case of not being able.  In such a matter as breaking off a branch from a tree at the order of a superior, if you say to people, ‘I am not able to do it,’ it is not a case of not being able to do it.  And so your Majesty’s not attaining to the Royal sway is not such a case as that of taking the T’ae mountain under your arm and leaping over the North Sea with it; but it is a case like that of breaking off a branch from a tree.

“Treat with reverence due to age the elders in 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 rich 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