Li Lou II · 孟子 4B.22

Passage 22

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「君jūn子zǐ之zhī澤zé，五wǔ世shì而ér斬zhǎn；小xiǎo人rén之zhī澤zé，五wǔ世shì而ér斬zhǎn。予yǔ未wèi得dé為wéi孔kǒng子zǐ徒tú也yě，予yǔ私sī淑shū諸zhū人rén也yě。」

Mencius said, 'The influence of a sovereign sage terminates in the fifth generation. The influence of a mere sage does the same. Although I could not be a disciple of Confucius himself, I have endeavoured to cultivate my virtue by means of others who were.'

First-principles reading

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