Page 216 - 《孟子》（一）中·英对照版

?孟
子

practice of this righteousness, but without the object
of thereby nourishing the passion-nature. Let not
the mind forget its work, but let there be no assisting
the growth of that nature. Let us not be like the
man of Song. There was a man of Song, who was
grieved that his growing corn was not longer, and
so he pulled it up. Having done this, he returned
home, looking very stupid, and said to his people,
‘I am tired today. I have been helping the corn to
grow long.’ His son ran to look at it, and found the
corn all withered. There are few in the world, who
do not deal with their passion-nature, as if they
were assisting the corn to grow long. Some indeed
consider it of no benefit to them, and let it alone: —
they do not weed their corn. They who assist it to
grow long pull out their corn. What they do is not
only of no benefit to the nature, but it also injures it.”

Gongsun Chou further asked, “What do you
mean by saying that you understand whatever words

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