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Gao Zi I · 孟子 6A.19

Passage 19

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「五wǔ穀gǔ者zhě，種zhǒng之zhī美měi者zhě也yě。茍jì為wéi不bù熟shú，不bù如rú荑yí稗bài。夫fū仁rén，亦yì在zài乎hū熟shú之zhī而ér已yǐ矣yǐ。」

Mencius said, 'Of all seeds the best are the five kinds of grain, yet if they be not ripe, they are not equal to the ti or the bai. So, the value of benevolence depends entirely on its being brought to maturity.'

First-principles reading

Begin with the words and context, expose the premise beneath the argument, then test the conditions and limits of the principle.