2051

民為貴

社稷次之

君為軽 林覚成

The people are the most important

Earth and grain come second

The ruler is the least important　-Mencius

明治文化全集第五巻一八九頁に吉野作造氏は次の樣に書いている。

In the "Complete Works of Meiji Bunka", Vol. 5, p. 189, Mr. Sakuzo Yoshino wrote as follows.

「国は全く民によって出来たものじゃ。

A country is made up of its people.

その證據には昔から王なくても民あれば国は出来ることなりども王ありでも民なくては国のある處なく、また全く民がなければ初より王など云えるものはない。

The proof is that a nation can exist without a king as long as there are people, but even if there is a king, there is no nation without people, and if there are no people at all, there is no king at all.

それで尚書にも民唯邦本と云い、また常範にも民者邦の先とありで、そのうえ孔孟も民為貴社稷次之君為軽と云った。

The Classic of History also says, "The people are the principal citizens of the country," and Confucius and Mencius also say, "The people are the first to become the country.

・・・・・皆、民が本で国は民によって出来たものとの事でございます。」

…..The people are the true source of all things, and the nation was created by the people.

民をなくすれば国は滅びる。

Without the people, the nation will perish.

日本国民の本分はこの勝てない戦争に結末をつけて国を救うにある。

The true duty of the Japanese people is to bring an end to this unwinnable war and save their country.