expression
great human beings never lose the innocence of childhood; a virtuous ruler never loses the spirit of the common people
Proverb from Mencius, used to express that true wisdom or virtue retains a pure, childlike heart. The second gloss reflects a more political interpretation.
「大人は赤子の心を失わず」という言葉は、孟子に由来する。
The saying 'A great person never loses the heart of a child' originates from Mencius.
彼はいつも純粋で、まさに大人は赤子の心を失わずだ。
He is always pure-hearted; truly, a great person never loses the innocence of childhood.
From the Chinese classic Mencius, expressing the ideal that a person of virtue retains a childlike purity of heart.