Li Lou II · 孟子 4B.23

Passage 23

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「可kě以yǐ取qǔ，可kě以yǐ無wú取qǔ，取qǔ傷shāng廉lián。可kě以yǐ與yǔ，可kě以yǐ無wú與yǔ，與yǔ傷shāng惠huì。可kě以yǐ死sǐ，可kě以yǐ無wú死sǐ，死sǐ傷shāng勇yǒng。」

Mencius said, 'When it appears proper to take a thing, and afterwards not proper, to take it is contrary to moderation. When it appears proper to give a thing and afterwards not proper, to give it is contrary to kindness. When it appears proper to sacrifice one's life, and afterwards not proper, to sacrifice it is contrary to bravery.'

First-principles reading

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