Jin Xin I · 孟子 7A.3

Passage 03

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「『求qiú則zé得dé之zhī，舍shè則zé失shī之zhī』，是shì求qiú有yǒu益yì於wū得dé也yě，求qiú在zài我wǒ者zhě也yě。『求qiú之zhī有yǒu道dào，得dé之zhī有yǒu命mìng』，是shì求qiú無wú益yì於wū得dé也yě，求qiú在zài外wài者zhě也yě。」

Mencius said, 'When we get by our seeking and lose by our neglecting - in that case seeking is of use to getting, and the things sought for are those which are in ourselves. When the seeking is according to the proper course, and the getting is only as appointed - in that case the seeking is of no use to getting, and the things sought are without ourselves.'

First-principles reading

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