What is the original Chinese?

故天將降大任於是人也，必先苦其心志，勞其筋骨，餓其體膚，空乏其身，行拂亂其所為；所以動心忍性，曾益其所不能。. Translated from the original Chinese by Spartan Surfers.

天將降大任於是人也，必先苦其心志

Heaven tests the heart of anyone it means to give a great task.

Mencius, Mencius 6B15 (告子下)

What it means

Mencius says hardship is how people are prepared for big work: it toughens the heart and adds strengths they did not have. Your struggle may be training, not punishment. Read the hard season as a sign of what you are being made ready for.

The source

"Heaven tests the heart of anyone it means to give a great task." Mencius said it in Mencius 6B15 (告子下). Translated from the original Chinese by Spartan Surfers.

"故天將降大任於是人也，必先苦其心志，勞其筋骨，餓其體膚，空乏其身，行拂亂其所為；所以動心忍性，曾益其所不能。"

Original Chinese, Mencius 6B15 (告子下). Text read at zh.wikisource.org.

Who said it

Mencius (c. 372-289 BC). The most important Confucian after Confucius himself. He argued that human nature is good and that a ruler's first duty is to the people.

Questions

What does "Heaven tests the heart of anyone it means to give a great task." mean?: Mencius says hardship is how people are prepared for big work: it toughens the heart and adds strengths they did not have. Your struggle may be training, not punishment. Read the hard season as a sign of what you are being made ready for.
Who said "Heaven tests the heart of anyone it means to give a great task."?: Mencius (c. 372-289 BC). Source: Mencius 6B15 (告子下).
What is the original Chinese?: 故天將降大任於是人也，必先苦其心志，勞其筋骨，餓其體膚，空乏其身，行拂亂其所為；所以動心忍性，曾益其所不能。. Translated from the original Chinese by Spartan Surfers.
Is "Heaven tests the heart of anyone it means to give a great task." on a shirt?: Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 6 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

Cite this line

"Heaven tests the heart of anyone it means to give a great task." (Mencius, Mencius 6B15 (告子下), translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/heaven-tests-the-heart-of-anyone-it-means