Jin Xin I · 孟子 7A.16

Passage 16

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「舜shùn之zhī居jū深shēn山shān之zhī中zhōng，與yǔ木mù石shí居jū，與yǔ鹿lù豕shǐ游yóu，其qí所suǒ以yǐ異yì於wū深shēn山shān之zhī野yě人rén者zhě幾jī希xī。及jí其qí聞wén一yí善shàn言yán，見jiàn一yí善shàn行xíng，若ruò決jué江jiāng河hé，沛pèi然rán莫mò之zhī能néng御yù也yě。」

Mencius said, 'When Shun was living amid the deep retired mountains, dwelling with the trees and rocks, and wandering among the deer and swine, the difference between him and the rude inhabitants of those remote hills appeared very small. But when he heard a single good word, or saw a single good action, he was like a stream or a river bursting its banks, and flowing out in an irresistible flood.'

First-principles reading

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