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Li Lou II · 孟子 4B.25

Passage 25

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「西xī子zǐ蒙méng不bù潔jié，則zé人rén皆jiē掩yǎn鼻bí而ér過guò之zhī。雖suī有yǒu惡è人rén，齋zhāi戒jiè沐mù浴yù，則zé可kě以yǐ祀sì上shàng帝dì。」

Mencius said, 'If the lady Xi had been covered with a filthy head-dress, all people would have stopped their noses in passing her. Though a man may be wicked, yet if he adjust his thoughts, fast, and bathe, he may sacrifice to God.'

First-principles reading

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