Page 161 - 《孟子》（二）中·英对照版
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must become an earthworm, for so only can it be
done. Now, an earthworm eats the dry mould above,
and drinks the yellow spring below. Was the house
in which Zhong dwells built by a Boyi? or was it
built by a robber like Zhi? Was the millet which
he eats planted by a Boyi? Or was it planted by a
robber like Zhi? These are things which cannot be
known.”
“But,” said Zhang, “what does that matter? He
himself weaves sandals of hemp, and his wife twists
and dresses threads of hemp to sell or exchange
them.”
Mencius rejoined, “Zhong belongs to an
ancient and noble family of Qi. His elder brother
Dai received from Gai a revenue of 10,000 zhong,
but he considered his brother’s emolument to be
unrighteous, and would not eat of it, and in the
same way he considered his brother’s house to be
unrighteous, and would not dwell in it. Avoiding
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