Jin Xin II · 孟子 7B.27

Passage 27

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「有yǒu布bù縷lǚ之zhī征zhēng，粟sù米mǐ之zhī征zhēng，力lì役yì之zhī征zhēng。君jūn子zǐ用yòng其qí一yī，緩huǎn其qí二èr。用yòng其qí二èr而ér民mín有yǒu殍piǎo；用yòng其qí三sān而ér父fù子zǐ離lí。」

Mencius said, 'There are the exactions of hempen-cloth and silk, of grain, and of personal service. The prince requires but one of these at once, deferring the other two. If he require two of them at once, then the people die of hunger. If he require the three at once, then fathers and sons are separated.'

First-principles reading

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