Mencius's teaching — 'he who worries over the people's worries, the people in turn share his' — still holds today.
Tips
history
From 《孟子·梁惠王下》 (Mencius: King Hui of Liang II). Full passage: 『乐民之乐者，民亦乐其乐；忧民之忧者，民亦忧其忧』— 'he who delights in the people's joys, the people delight in his; he who grieves over the people's griefs, the people grieve over his.' A core Mencian statement on reciprocity between ruler and ruled.
usage
Always appears as the second half of the couplet with 『忧民之忧者』. The reciprocity it describes is the classical Chinese template for good governance — quoted in speeches, editorials, and party documents alike.
