- Mengzi （Mencius）孟子, 372–289 BC
English Translation:
"It has been said of old time, when the heavens determine to bestow a great mission unto some person, they must first be tested with distress of the mind, exhaustion of the flesh, hunger of the body, want for material needs, and misfortune on every turn, this so that their heart may develop endurance and firmness of character until they obtain abilities originally not possible."
Chinese Original Version:
天将降大任于斯人也，
Tiān jiāng jiàng dàrèn yú sī rén yě,
必先苦其心志，劳其筋骨，
bì xiān kǔ qí xīnzhì, láo qí jīngǔ,
饿其体肤，空乏其身，
è qí tǐ fū, kōngfá qí shēn,
行拂乱其所为，所以动心忍性，
xíng fú luàn qí suǒ wéi, suǒyǐ dòngxīn rěn xìng,
曾益其所不能.
zēng yì qí suǒ bùnéng.