January 1: Mencius Book I Part A

January 1
Mencius Book I Part A

3. King Hui of Liang said, “I have done my best for my state. When crops failed in Ho Nei I moved the populatino to Ho Tung and the grain to Ho Nei, and reversed the action when crops failed in Ho Tung. I have not noticed any of my neighbours taking as much pains over his government. Yet how is it the population of the neighbouring states has not decresed and mine has not increased?” …
(Mencius says) “If you do not interfere with the busy seasons in the fields, then there will be more grain than the people can eat; if you do not allow nets with too fine a mesh to be used in large ponds, then there will be more fish and turtles than they can eat; if hatchets and axes are permitted in the forests on the hills only in the proper seasons, then there will be more timber than they can use. When the people have more grain, more fish and turtles than they can eat, and more timber than they can use, then in the support of their parents when alive and in the mourning of them when dead, they will be able to have no regrets over anything left undone. For the people not to have any regrets over anything left undone, whether in the support of their parents when alive or in the mourning of them when dead, is the first step along the Kingly way. … Exercise due care over the education provided by village schools, and reinforce this by teaching them the duties proper to sons and younger brothers, and those whose heads have turned hoary will not be carrying loads on the roads. When those who are seventy wear silk and eat meat and the masses are neighter cold nor hungry, it is impossible for their prince not to be a true King.”

-- the quintessential debate about how much government! But really, dude, just take your ax into the forests on the hills only in the proper seasons. You want your dad to wear silk when he’s seventy, don’t you?