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Li Lou II · 孟子 4B.14

Passage 14

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「君jūn子zǐ深shēn造zào之zhī以yǐ道dào，欲yù其qí自zì得dé之zhī也yě。自zì得dé之zhī則zé居jū之zhī安ān，居jū之zhī安ān則zé資zī之zhī深shēn，資zī之zhī深shēn則zé取qǔ之zhī左zuǒ右yòu逢féng其qí原yuán。故gù君jūn子zǐ欲yù其qí自zì得dé之zhī也yě。」

Mencius said, 'The superior man makes his advances in what he is learning with deep earnestness and by the proper course, wishing to get hold of it as in himself. Having got hold of it in himself, he abides in it calmly and firmly. Abiding in it calmly and firmly, he reposes a deep reliance on it. Reposing a deep reliance on it, he seizes it on the left and right, meeting everywhere with it as a fountain from which things flow. It is on this account that the superior man wishes to get hold of what he is learning as in himself.'

First-principles reading

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