Page 177 - 《中庸》中·英对照版

第
二
十
章

decreasing measures of the love due to relatives,
and the steps in the honor due to the worthy, are
produced by the principle of propriety. When those
in inferior situations do not possess the confidence of
their superiors, they cannot retain the government
of the people. Hence the sovereign may not neglect
the cultivation of his own character. Wishing to
cultivate his character, he may not neglect to serve
his parents. In order to serve his parents, he may
not neglect to acquire knowledge of men. In order to
know men, he may not dispense with knowledge of
Heaven.

The duties of universal obligation are five and
the virtues wherewith they are practiced are three.
The duties are those between sovereign and minister,
between father and son, between husband and
wife, between elder brother and younger, and those
belonging to the intercourse of friends. Those five
are the duties of universal obligation. Knowledge,

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