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Jin Xin I · 孟子 7A.14

Passage 14

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「仁rén言yán，不bù如rú仁rén聲shēng之zhī入rù人rén深shēn也yě。善shàn政zhèng，不bù如rú善shàn教jiào之zhī得dé民mín也yě。善shàn政zhèng民mín畏wèi之zhī；善shàn教jiào民mín愛ài之zhī。善shàn政zhèng得dé民mín財cái；善shàn教jiào得dé民mín心xīn。」

Mencius said, 'Kindly words do not enter so deeply into men as a reputation for kindness. Good government does not lay hold of the people so much as good instructions. Good government is feared by the people, while good instructions are loved by them. Good government gets the people's wealth, while good instructions get their hearts.'

First-principles reading

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