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Li Lou I · 孟子 4A.11

Passage 11

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「道dào在zài邇ěr，而ér求qiú諸zhū遠yuǎn；事shì在zài易yì，而ér求qiú諸zhū難nán。人rén人rén親qīn其qí親qīn、長cháng其qí長cháng，而ér天tiān下xià平píng。」

Mencius said, 'The path of duty lies in what is near, and men seek for it in what is remote. The work of duty lies in what is easy, and men seek for it in what is difficult. If each man would love his parents and show the due respect to his elders, the whole land would enjoy tranquillity.'

First-principles reading

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