Translation:
Shun originally worked in the fields (before he was made king), Fu Yue was a simple mason (before he became a Prime Minister), Jiao Ge used to eke out a living by selling fish and salt (before he became a government official), Guan Yi Wu was languishing in prison (before King Wen of Qi decided to give him the office of the Prime Minister), Sun Shu Ao labored by the seaside (before King Zhuang of Chu made him the Prime Minister), Bai Li Xi was a lowly slave (before King Qin Mu Gong bought his freedom and made him a top official).

Thus, when Heaven gave these people a great responsibility, it must first make their ambitions suffer, tire out their muscles and bones, make them face starvation and weakness, have them live in poverty, and create all kinds of obstacles to frustrate their actions, so that their hearts and minds would be challenged and their self-resolve would become strong, giving them the capabilities that they lacked before.

When people make mistakes, they could correct them afterwards, when the heart experienced many trials, anxiety weights in, then they would act (to accomplish something); when seeing others' displeasure, and hearing others' reproach, then they would learn a lesson. If inside a country there were no officials willing to voice criticism, and outside there were no foreign threats or calamities, then the country is very likely to be destroyed.

Afterwards, it would be understood what it meant to live in calamity and misfortune, but die in peace and happiness.

生于忧患,死于安乐-中文翻译英文
Translated from Chinese to English by HM68.COM

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