四海之內皆兄弟

From the Analects:

司馬牛憂曰：「人皆有兄弟，我獨亡。」子夏曰：「商聞之矣：死生有命，富貴在天。君子敬而無失，與人恭而有禮。四海之內，皆兄弟也。君子何患乎無兄弟也？」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

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司马牛忧曰：“人皆有兄弟，我独亡。”子夏曰：“商闻之矣：死生有命，富贵在天。君子敬而无失，与人恭而有礼。四海之内，皆兄弟也。君子何患乎无兄弟也？” [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Sīmǎniú yōu yuē: “Rén jiē yǒu xiōngdì, wǒ dú wú.” Zǐxià yuē: “Shāng wén zhī yǐ: sǐ shēng yǒu mìng, fù guì zài tiān. Jūnzǐ jìng ér wú shī, yǔ rén gōng ér yǒulǐ. Sìhǎi zhī nèi, jiē xiōngdì yě. Jūnzǐ hé huàn hū wú xiōngdì yě?” [Pinyin]

Si Ma Niu, full of anxiety, said, "Other men all have their brothers, I only have not." Zi Xia said to him, "There is the following saying which I have heard - 'Death and life have their determined appointment; riches and honors depend upon Heaven.' Let the superior man never fail reverentially to order his own conduct, and let him be respectful to others and observant of propriety - then all within the four seas will be his brothers. What has the superior man to do with being distressed because he has no brothers?"

四海之內皆兄弟

1. all men are brothers

   • 魯達道：「員外錯愛酒家，如何報答？」趙員外便道：「『四海之內皆兄弟也。』如何言報答之事？」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     鲁达道：“员外错爱酒家，如何报答？”赵员外便道：“‘四海之内皆兄弟也。’如何言报答之事？” [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: Shi Nai'an, Water Margin, circa 14^th century CE

     Lǔ Dá dào: “Yuánwài cuò'ài jiǔjiā, rúhé bàodá?” Zhào yuánwài biàn dào: “‘sìhǎizhīnèijiēxiōngdì yě.’ Rúhé yán bàodá zhī shì?” [Pinyin]

     Lu Da said: "Squire, you've been treating this drunkard so well. How can I repay you?" Squire Zhao answered: "Within the four seas, all men are brothers. Why mention repayment?"