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Jin Xin I · 孟子 7A.44

Passage 44

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「於wū不bù可kě已yǐ而ér已yǐ者zhě，無wú所suǒ不bù已yǐ。於wū所suǒ厚hòu者zhě薄báo，無wú所suǒ不bù薄báo也yě。其qí進jìn銳ruì者zhě，其qí退tuì速sù。」

Mencius said, 'He who stops short where stopping is acknowledged to be not allowable, will stop short in everything. He who behaves shabbily to those whom he ought to treat well, will behave shabbily to all. He who advances with precipitation will retire with speed.'

First-principles reading

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