Li Lou I · 孟子 4A.16

Passage 16

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「恭gōng者zhě不bù侮wǔ人rén，儉jiǎn者zhě不bù奪duó人rén。侮wǔ奪duó人rén之zhī君jūn，惟wéi恐kǒng不bú順shùn焉yān，惡è得dé爲wéi恭gōng儉jiǎn？恭gōng儉jiǎn豈qǐ可kě以yǐ聲shēng音yīn笑xiào貌mào爲wéi哉zāi？」

Mencius said, 'The respectful do not despise others. The economical do not plunder others. The prince who treats men with despite and plunders them, is only afraid that they may not prove obedient to him - how can he be regarded as respectful or economical? How can respectfulness and economy be made out of tones of the voice, and a smiling manner?'

First-principles reading

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