Mencius, known as Meng Ke, was a native of Zou (present-day Zou County, Shandong) during the Warring States period. He inherited Confucius's ideas and enriched Confucian teachings. At that time, states of varying strengths fought for supremacy. Some strategists proposed the "Vertical Alliance"—weak states uniting against the powerful Qin—while others advocated the "Horizontal Alliance"—weak states joining Qin to attack other weak states. This debate was essentially about survival strategies. Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi were prominent lobbyists persuading states to submit to Qin. Because Qin was so powerful, smaller states trembled at the sight of its envoys.
One day, a man named Jing Chun, who admired the art of political maneuvering, asked Mencius, "Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi should be considered true men of honor, right? When they speak, many weak states nod in agreement; when they anger, the feudal lords tremble; when they are calm, the world enjoys peace without war."
Mencius thought for a moment and replied, "How could this be considered a true man? A real man must understand ritual and law, with benevolence and righteousness as his foundation—these are the highest principles. When his ambitions are fulfilled, he does not distance himself from the people but walks the great path with them, inspiring their willing following. When his ambitions are thwarted, he holds fast to his own principles, neither drifting with the tide nor flattering others. He must not be swayed by wealth and honor, nor change his resolve in poverty and obscurity, nor bend his integrity under threats or violence. Only by achieving these three things can one be called a true man."
After hearing this, Jing Chun felt displeased but had no retort, so he reluctantly left Mencius.
Later, people omitted the word "can" from "cannot be bent by force," forming the idiom "unbent by force." This idiom describes someone who refuses to yield to violent pressure and remains steadfast.
Source: *Mencius*, Chapter "Teng Wen Gong"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "威武不屈" came to describe how someone refuses to yield to violent pressure and remains steadfast.