孟子闡明王道的基礎後，進一步向梁惠王解說，王道的實施，就在施行仁政。
施行仁政的第一步，就是讓農民（耕者），免於挨餓受凍！「耕也，幸福在其中矣！」
故謂：
「五畝之宅，樹之以桑，五十者可衣帛矣。"Let mulberry trees be planted about the homesteads with their five mau,and persons of fifty years may be clothed with silk. James Legge, The Works of Mencius, op cit., p.131"」（孟子梁惠王上）
每戶農家有五畝地的農舍，周圍種植桑樹，用以養蠶，婦女織布，做衣裳，五十歲上年紀的人就有輕柔保暖的綢衣可穿。
「雞豚狗彘之畜，無失其時，七十者可以食肉矣。"In keeping fowls, pigs, dogs, and swine, let not their times of breeding be neglected, and persons of seventy years may eat flesh. Ibid"」（同上）
家禽、家畜如雞狗大小豬，飼養得法，七十歲的老人，可有燉肉可吃。
「百畝之田，勿奪其時，數口之家，可以無飢矣。"Let there not be taken away the time that is proper for the cultivation of the farm with its hundred mau, and the family of several mouths that is supported by it shall not suffer from hunger. Ibid"」（同上）
每戶耕作─百畝田地，公家徵調徭役，避開農忙季節，一家八口，三代同堂的農戶，就可以免於飢餓。
「謹庠序之教，申之以孝悌之義，頒白者不負載於道路矣。"Let careful attention be paid to education in schools, inculcating in it especially the filial and fraternal duties, and grey-haired men will not be seen upon the roads, carrying burdens on their backs or on their heads.Ibid.pp.131-132"」（同上）
普設學堂，慎重選擇教材，宣導孝悌之義─父（母）慈、 子（女）孝、兄（姊）友、弟（妹）恭，仁道普行於家庭、 家族，如此，頭髮泛白的老人，不必背著重負，走在道路上。
孟子不忘孔子的提醒 「耕也，餒在其中矣！"Ploughing, there is hunger in it !"」
尤其、孝悌為「仁」之本（論語學而），孝悌施行於每個家庭，就是施行仁政於天下的起步。「人飢己飢 ，人溺己溺」或「不獨親其親，不獨子其子" Not only love one's own parent, children, but also love others in the same way. Compare, Treat with the reverence due to age the elders in your own family, so that the elders in the families of others shall be similarly treated. Treat with the kindness due to youth the young in your own family, so that the young in the families of others shall be similarly treated."」乃至「己立立人，己達達人"One wishing to be established himself, seeks also to establish others, wishing to be enlarged himself, seeks also to enlarge others." 」（論語，雍也），就是以修身"cultivated one's person"、齊家"regulated one's family"為基礎。而「The Inalienable Rights of Life,Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness」盡在其中矣！誰質疑：「All Men are created equal!」
(取材自Alex Pan’s Digest)
Alex Pan TheWalker
2011.12.07
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