Page 38 - 《孟子》（一）中·英对照版
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子
people increase. How is this?”
Mencius replied, “Your Majesty is fond of
war—let me take an illustration from war. The
soldiers move forward to the sound of the drums;
and after their weapons have been crossed, on one
side they throw away their coats of mail, trail their
arms behind them, and run. Some run a hundred
paces and stop; some run fifty paces and stop. What
would you think if those who run fifty paces were to
laugh at those who run a hundred paces?”
The king said, “They should not do so. Though
they did not run a hundred paces, yet they also ran
away.”
“Since Your Majesty knows this,” replied
Mencius.
“you need not hope that your people will
become more numerous than those of the neighboring
kingdoms. If the seasons of husbandry be not
interfered with, the grain will be more than can be
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