Jin Xin I · 孟子 7A.45

Passage 45

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「君jūn子zǐ之zhī於wū物wù也yě，愛ài之zhī而ér弗fú仁rén；於wū民mín也yě，仁rén之zhī而ér弗fú親qīn。親qīn親qīn而ér仁rén民mín，仁rén民mín而ér愛ài物wù。」

Mencius said, 'In regard to inferior creatures, the superior man is kind to them, but not loving. In regard to people generally, he is loving to them, but not affectionate. He is affectionate to his parents, and lovingly disposed to people generally. He is lovingly disposed to people generally, and kind to creatures.'

First-principles reading

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