Nurturing the Greater and Lesser Parts

English translation

Mencius said, “People care for every part of their bodies, and what they care for throughout, they also nourish throughout. If they cherish every inch of skin, they should nourish every inch of it. How else can we judge whether their cultivation is good or bad? We need only look at which parts they choose to nourish in themselves. The body has parts of greater and lesser worth, of greater and lesser importance. Do not let the small injure the great, or the lesser injure the more valuable. One who nourishes only the lesser parts is a petty person; one who nourishes the greater parts is a great person. If a gardener neglects paulownia and catalpa trees but cultivates thorny jujubes, that is a poor gardener. If someone protects one finger while injuring the shoulder and back without noticing, that person is reckless and confused in what they care for. People despise those devoted to food because they nourish the small and lose the great. If eating and drinking caused no such loss, would the mouth and belly exist merely to serve a few inches of skin?”