Jin Xin I · 孟子 7A.8

Passage 08

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「古gǔ之zhī賢xián王wáng，好hǎo善shàn而ér忘wàng勢shì。古gǔ之zhī賢xián士shì，何hé獨dú不bù然rán？樂lè其qí道dào而ér忘wàng人rén之zhī勢shì。故gù王wáng公gōng不bú致zhì敬jìng盡jìn禮lǐ，則zé不bù得dé亟jí見jiàn之zhī。見jiàn且qiě由yóu不bù得dé亟jí，而ér況kuàng得dé而ér臣chén之zhī乎hū？」

Mencius said, 'The able and virtuous monarchs of antiquity loved virtue and forgot their power. And shall an exception be made of the able and virtuous scholars of antiquity, that they did not do the same? They delighted in their own principles, and were oblivious of the power of princes. Therefore, if kings and dukes did not show the utmost respect, and observe all forms of ceremony, they were not permitted to come frequently and visit them. If they thus found it not in their power to pay them frequent visits, how much less could they get to employ them as ministers?'

First-principles reading

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