The translation of fish is what I want:

1. Fish is what I want; bear’s paw is also what I want. If I can't get both of these things at the same time, then I have to give up the fish and choose the bear's paw. Life is also what I want. Morality is also what I want. If I cannot get both of these things at the same time, then I have no choice but to sacrifice my life and choose morality.

2. Life is what I love, but there are things I love more than life, so I don’t do anything just to survive; death is what I hate, and there is nothing I hate more than death. Something more powerful, so I will not avoid certain disasters. If there is nothing that people love more than life, then why should we not use any means that can be used to survive?

3. If there is nothing that people hate more than death, then Any bad thing that can be used to avoid disaster, what can't be done? You can survive by adopting a certain method, but some people are unwilling to adopt it; you can avoid disaster by adopting a certain method, but some people are unwilling to adopt it.

4. It can be seen from this that they love something more precious than life (that is, "righteousness"); they hate something more powerful than death. Not only sages have this nature, but also people Everyone has it, but the virtuous do not lose it. A bowl of rice, a bowl of soup, if you eat it you can live, if you don't get it you will starve to death.

5. If you shout it to him without courtesy, the hungry passer-by will not accept it; if you give it to others by kicking it, the beggar will not accept it because of contempt. Although he was a high-ranking official and received a generous salary, he accepted it without discerning whether it was in line with etiquette and justice. In this way, what good does it do me to have a high official position and a generous salary? Is it for the splendor of my house, the service of my wives and concubines, and the gratitude of the poor people I know well?

6. In the past (someone) (someone) would rather die than accept (other people's charity) for (morality), but now they accept it for the splendor of the house; in the past (someone) for (morality) (Prefer) death rather than accept (other people's charity), but now (someone) accepts it for the service of wives and concubines;

7. In the past (someone) (someone) (would rather) die for (morality) Not willing to accept (alms from others), now (someone) accepts it in order to make the poor and needy people they know appreciate their kindness. Can't this (behavior) stop? This is called losing one's inherent nature.

Extended information:,

What You Want is also selected from "Mencius Gaozi 1", which discusses an important proposition of Mencius: righteousness is more important than life, when righteousness and life When you cannot have both, you should sacrifice your life for justice. Mencius said: "The heart of shame and disgust is righteousness." ("Mencius Gaozi 1") He also said: "Righteousness is the way. ... Only a gentleman can follow this way." ("Wan Zhang 2")

Mencius believed that he felt ashamed when he did bad things, and felt disgusted when others did bad things. This is righteousness; righteousness is the right path that a moral gentleman must follow.

Mencius first made an analogy using specific things that people are familiar with in life: Fish is what I want to get, and bear paws are also what I want to get. When I cannot get both at the same time, I would rather give up the fish and get the I want bear's paw; life is what I cherish, and righteousness is also what I cherish. If I cannot get both at the same time, I would rather give up life and want righteousness.

Mencius compared life to a fish, and compared Bayi to a bear's paw in his heart. He believed that righteousness is more precious than life, just as bear paws are more precious than fish. This naturally leads to the concept of "sacrifice one's life for righteousness". claim. This claim is the central argument of the entire article.