Jin Xin I · 孟子 7A.18

Passage 18

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「人rén之zhī有yǒu德dé慧huì術shù知zhī者zhě，恒héng存cún乎hū疢chèn疾jí。獨dú孤gū臣chén孽niè子zǐ，其qí操cāo心xīn也yě危wēi，其qí慮lǜ患huàn也yě深shēn，故gù達dá。」

Mencius said, 'Men who are possessed of intelligent virtue and prudence in affairs will generally be found to have been in sickness and troubles. They are the friendless minister and concubine's son, who keep their hearts under a sense of peril, and use deep precautions against calamity. On this account they become distinguished for their intelligence.'

First-principles reading

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