Page 173 - 《孟子》（二）中·英对照版

离
娄
上

they do not put into practice the ways of the ancient
kings. Hence we have the saying: ‘Virtue alone is
not sufficient for the exercise of government; laws
alone cannot carry themselves into practice.’ It is
said in the Book of Poetry, ‘Without transgression,
without forgetfulness, following the ancient statutes.’
Never has any one fallen into error, who followed
the laws of the ancient kings. When the sages had
used the vigour of their eyes, they called in to their
aid the compass, the square, the level, and the line, to
make things square, round, level, and straight: —the
use of the instruments is inexhaustible. When they
had used their power of hearing to the utmost, they
called in the pitch-tubes to their aid to determine the
five notes: —the use of those tubes is inexhaustible.
When they had exerted to the utmost the thoughts of
their hearts, they called in to their aid a government
that could not endure to witness the sufferings
of men—and their benevolence overspread the

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