Page 157 - 《孟子》（三）中·英对照版

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dragons embroidered on it; and a great officer, with
one having feathers suspended from the top of the
staff. When the forester was summoned with the
article appropriate to the summoning of a great
officer, he would have died rather than presume
to go. If a common man were summoned with the
article appropriate to the summoning of a scholar,
how could he presume to go? How much more
may we expect this refusal to go, when a man of
talents and virtue is summoned in a way which
is inappropriate to his character! When a prince
wishes to see a man of talents and virtue, and does
not take the proper course to get his wish, it is as
if he wished him to enter his palace, and shut the
door against him. Now, righteousness is the way,
and propriety is the door, but it is only the superior
man who can follow this way, and go out and in by
this door. It is said in the Book of Poetry, ‘The way
to Zhou is level like a whetstone, and straight as an

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