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Li Lou II · 孟子 4B.7

Passage 07

孟mèng子zǐ曰yuē：「中zhōng也yě養yǎng不bù中zhōng，才cái也yě養yǎng不bù才cái，故gù人rén樂lè有yǒu賢xián父fù兄xiōng也yě。如rú中zhōng也yě棄qì不bù中zhōng，才cái也yě棄qì不bù才cái，則zé賢xián不bú肖xiào之zhī相xiāng去qù，其qí間jiàn不bù能néng以yǐ寸cùn。」

Mencius said, 'Those who keep the Mean, train up those who do not, and those who have abilities, train up those who have not, and hence men rejoice in having fathers and elder brothers who are possessed of virtue and talent. If they who keep the Mean spurn those who do not, and they who have abilities spurn those who have not, then the space between them - those so gifted and the ungifted - will not admit an inch.'

First-principles reading

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