Page 250 - 《孟子》(一)中·英对照版
P. 250

?孟
 子

commiseration is essential to man, that the feeling of
shame and dislike is essential to man, that the feeling
of modesty and complaisance is essential to man,
and that the feeling of approving and disapproving
is essential to man. The feeling of commiseration
is the principle of benevolence. The feeling of
shame and dislike is the principle of righteousness.
The feeling of modesty and complaisance is the
principle of propriety. The feeling of approving and
disapproving is the principle of knowledge. Men
have these four principles just as they have their
four limbs. When men, having these four principles,
yet say of themselves that they cannot develop them,
they play the thief with themselves, and he who says
of his prince that he cannot develop them plays the
thief with his prince. Since all men have these four
principles in themselves, let them know to give them
all their development and completion, and the issue
will be like that of fire which has begun to burn, or

228
   245   246   247   248   249   250   251   252   253   254   255