Jin Xin II · 孟子 7B.36

Passage 36

曾céng晳xī嗜shì羊yáng棗zǎo，而ér曾céng子zǐ不bù忍rěn食shí羊yáng棗zǎo。公gōng孫sūn丑chǒu問wèn曰yuē：「膾kuài炙zhì與yǔ羊yáng棗zǎo孰shú美měi？」孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「膾kuài炙zhì哉zāi！」公gōng孫sūn丑chǒu曰yuē：「然rán則zé曾céng子zǐ何hé為wéi食shí膾kuài炙zhì而ér不bù食shí羊yáng棗zǎo？」曰yuē：「膾kuài炙zhì所suǒ同tóng也yě，羊yáng棗zǎo所suǒ獨dú也yě。諱huì名míng不bú諱huì姓xìng，姓xìng所suǒ同tóng也yě，名míng所suǒ獨dú也yě。」

Mencius said, 'Zeng Xi was fond of sheep-dates, and his son, the philosopher Zeng, could not bear to eat sheep-dates.' Gong Sun Chou asked, saying, 'Which is best, minced meat and broiled meat, or sheep-dates?' Mencius said, 'Mince and broiled meat, to be sure.' Gong Sun Chou went on, 'Then why did the philosopher Zeng eat mince and broiled meat, and would not eat sheep-dates?' Mencius answered, 'For mince and broiled meat there is a common liking, while that for sheep-dates was peculiar. We avoid the name, but do not avoid the surname. The surname is common; the name is peculiar.'