Page 184 - 《大学》中·英对照版

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学

possession.
The officer Meng Xian said, “He who keeps

horses and a carriage does not look after fowls
and pigs. The family which keeps its stores of ice
does not rear cattle or sheep. So, the house which
possesses a hundred chariots should not keep a
minister to look out for imposts that he may lay
them on the people. Than to have such a minister, it
were better for that house to have one who should
rob it of its revenues.” This is in accordance with
the saying:—“In a state, pecuniary gain is not to be
considered to be prosperity, but its prosperity will
be found in righteousness.” When he who presides
over a state or a family makes his revenues his
chief business, he must be under the influence of
some small, mean man. He may consider this man
to be good; but when such a person is employed in
the administration of a state or family, calamities
from Heaven, and injuries from men, will befall

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