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Li Lou II · 孟子 4B.19

Passage 19

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「人rén之zhī所suǒ以yǐ異yì於wū禽qín獸shòu者zhě幾jī希xī，庶shù民mín去qù之zhī，君jūn子zǐ存cún之zhī。舜shùn明míng於wū庶shù物wù，察chá於wū人rén倫lún；由yóu仁rén義yì行xíng，非fēi行xíng仁rén義yì也yě。」

Mencius said, 'That whereby man differs from the lower animals is but small. The mass of people cast it away, while superior men preserve it. Shun clearly understood the multitude of things, and closely observed the relations of humanity. He walked along the path of benevolence and righteousness; he did not need to pursue benevolence and righteousness.'

First-principles reading

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