易姓改号,谓之亡国;仁义充塞,而至于率兽食人,人将相食,谓之亡天下......保国者,其君其臣、肉食者谋之;保天下者,匹夫之贱,与有责焉耳矣。
(顾炎武《日知录》卷十三)
(换姓改朝,叫作“亡国”;而仁义道德得不到发扬,以至于统治者率领野兽吃人,民众也相互残害,叫作“亡天下”。保有国家,只是帝王大臣及达官贵人去谋划;而保有天下,即便是地位卑微的普通百姓,也有责任。)
When one dynasty is replaced by another, it means the state of the old dynasty perishes. When benevolence and righteousness are obstructed to the point that the powerful lead others to exploit people and people fight each other, it means all under heaven perishes... Safeguarding the state is the concern of rulers, ministers, and officials; while safeguarding all under heaven is the responsibility of every individual, no matter how lowly they may be.
(Gu Yanwu: Record of Daily Study)
顾炎武之言曰:天下兴亡,匹夫之贱与有责焉。
(麦华《论今日疆臣之责任》)
(顾炎武有句话说:天下兴亡,即使是地位卑微的普通百姓也有责任。)
Gu Yanwu said: The rise and fall of all under heaven is the responsibility of every individual, no matter how lowly they may be.
(Mai Hua: The Responsibilities of Officials in Charge of Current Border Affairs)
今欲国耻之一洒,其在我辈之自新......夫我辈则多矣,欲尽人而自新,云胡可致?我勿问他人,问我而已。斯乃真顾亭林所谓“天下兴亡,匹夫有责”也。
(梁启超《饮冰室文集》卷三十三“痛定罪言”三引)
(现在要一洗国家蒙受的耻辱,关键在于我们这些人的自我更新......我们人数当然很多,若是要所有人都实现自我更新,怎么可能做到呢?不必问其他人能否做到,只问自己能否做到就可以了。这确实像顾炎武所说的“天下兴亡,匹夫有责”啊!)
The key to wiping out our country’s humiliation lies in our self-renewal... We have a large population, so it is impossible for every individual to achieve such self-renewal. We should do it ourselves whether or not others can also do it. This is just like what Gu Yanwu once said,"The rise and fall of all under heaven is the responsibility of every individual."
(Liang Qichao: Collected Works from the Ice- drinker’s Studio)