Gao Zi I · 孟子 6A.3

Passage 03

告gào子zǐ曰yuē：「生shēng之zhī謂wèi性xìng。」孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「生shēng之zhī謂wèi性xìng也yě，猶yóu白bái之zhī謂wèi白bái與yǔ？」曰yuē：「然rán。」「白bái羽yǔ之zhī白bái也yě，猶yóu白bái雪xuě之zhī白bái；白bái雪xuě之zhī白bái，猶yóu白bái玉yù之zhī白bái歟yú？」曰yuē：「然rán。」「然rán則zé犬quǎn之zhī性xìng猶yóu牛niú之zhī性xìng，牛niú之zhī性xìng猶yóu人rén之zhī性xìng歟yú？」

The philosopher Gao said, 'Life is what we call nature!' Mencius asked him, 'Do you say that by nature you mean life, just as you say that white is white?' 'Yes, I do,' was the reply. Mencius added, 'Is the whiteness of a white feather like that of white snow, and the whiteness of white snow like that of white jade?' Gao again said 'Yes.' 'Very well,' pursued Mencius. 'Is the nature of a dog like the nature of an ox, and the nature of an ox like the nature of a man?'