On investigating the government of the neighboring states, I have not found that there is any king who does his utmost as I do. But why is it that the number of the people of the neighboring states has not decreased, and that of my people has not increased?"

On examining the government of the neighbouring kingdoms, I do not find that there is any prince who exerts his mind as I do. And yet the people of the neighbouring kingdoms do not decrease, nor do my people increase. How is this?’

I search the government of neighboring lands, and no one puts his heart into it as I do. Why do not the people of neighboring lands grow fewer or my people grow more?

I've never seen such devotion in the governments of neighboring countries, but their populations are growing byleaps and bounds while mine hardly grows at all. How canthis be?"

I have examined the mole of government pursued in neighbouring states : their rulers do not exert themselves as I do : yet the population of the neighbouring provinces does not decrease, nor does the number of my people increase. What can be the cause of this?