Innate Ability and Knowledge
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
孟子曰:“人之所不学而能者,其良能也。所不虑而知者,其良知也。
English translation
Mencius said, “What people can do without having learned it is their innate ability; what they know without having reasoned it out is their innate understanding.”
Original Chinese text
孩提之童,无不知爱其亲者,及其长也,无不知敬其兄也。
English translation
“Even very young children know to love their parents; as they grow older, they know to respect their elder brothers.”
Original Chinese text
亲亲,仁也。敬长,义也。无他,达之天下也。”
English translation
“Loving one’s family is benevolence; respecting elders is righteousness. There is nothing else to it: these principles are extended throughout the world.”