Jin Xin I · 孟子 7A.26

Passage 26

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「楊yáng子zǐ取qǔ『為wéi我wǒ』，拔bá一yì毛máo而ér利lì天tiān下xià，不bù為wéi也yě。墨mò子zǐ『兼jiān愛ài』，摩mó頂dǐng於wū踵zhǒng利lì天tiān下xià，為wéi之zhī。子zǐ莫mò『執zhí中zhōng』，執zhí中zhōng為wéi近jìn之zhī。執zhí中zhōng無wú權quán，猶yóu執zhí一yī也yě。所suǒ惡è執zhí一yì者zhě，為wéi其qí賊zéi道dào也yě，舉jǔ一yī而ér廢fèi百bǎi也yě。」

Mencius said, 'The principle of the philosopher Yang was "Each one for himself." Though he might have benefited the whole kingdom by plucking out a single hair, he would not have done it. The philosopher Mo loves all equally. If by rubbing smooth his whole body from the crown to the heel, he could have benefited the kingdom, he would have done it. Zi Mo holds a medium between these. By holding that medium, he is nearer the right. But by holding it without leaving room for the exigency of circumstances, it becomes like their holding their one point. The reason why I hate that holding to one point is the injury it does to the way of right principle. It takes up one point and disregards a hundred others.'